Promoting Public Health Using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Abstract

Studies have consistently found that safety and security are major publicconcerns, however, crime is rarely considered as an outcome in public health.The recent planning policy shift towards promoting compact, ?walkable?communities close to public transport aims to redress many of the problemsassociated with urban sprawl. However, communities who do not feel safe areless likely to be active citizens. This paper argues that Crime PreventionThrough Environmental Design (CPTED) has potential benefits for publichealth in the provision of local crime risk assessments and in delivering saferenvironments, which can support active living, walkable communities andpublic health.