Sustainability vs. Safety: Confusion, Conflict and Contradiction in Designing out Crime

This chapter highlights the confusing and contradictory policy and guidance within the field of designing out crime within the built environment and challenges policy makers to address an issue which, as yet, has remained unresolved. Whilst it is accepted that conflicting research will always exist, the current debate surrounding the criminogenic features of permeable design has diverted practitioners' attention from the immediate task of reducing crime. Having highlighted the current conflict within the UK planning system, the chapter concludes with a detailed analysis of the specific environmental factors which increase a property's vulnerability to victimisation. This is presented as a simple, usable risk assessment mechanism to be used by crime reduction practitioners as a means of identifying which properties will become vulnerable to crime if built (therefore allowing them to challenge planning applications) or in the case of properties already developed, allowing resources to be directed towards properties at most risk.