Building design for crime prevention

Crime prevention through building is not a new concept, but awareness of it has increased following the rising incidence of crime. This thesis is based on research conducted during the last two years, and from information and knowledge gained by the author from forty years of architectural practice. The research began with a review of published material which mainly concentrated on social influences and "target hardening" methods but did not address the fundamental interface between building form and susceptibility to criminal attack. In parallel, interviews were conducted with a structured sample of people specially selected for their experience of crime against buildings; building owners, police officers, security experts, architects, researchers, insurers, victims of crime and inner-city residents. A case study, made with the co-operation of Nottingham University and the West Midlands Police Authority, was based on an inner housing estate in Nottingham. [Continues.]