Designing out

Designing out

The "designing-out" approach aims to reduce crime and terrorism risk by appropriately shaped built infrastructure. By designing out, the urban environment becomes less attractive as a working ground for criminals and terrorists.

The approach to designing out assumes that certain types and locations of urban space are significantly more attractive to perpetrators than others, mainly for social and cultural reasons (cf. Geason/Wilson 1989). Therefore, the choice of urban targets is seen as mainly driven by factors such as maximum visibility of casualties, vulnerable and actually harmed people, maximum media exposure and potential for vast spread of fear among the wider population.

Designing out-centred urban planning helps increase urban security efficiently. It aims for reducing criminal behaviour and terrorist actions. A converse concept is designing in.

Designing out principles for urban planning

Designing out can be:

Structural

Practical designing out principles limit the damage of terrorist attacks by specific environmental design of built infrastructure. These principles include structural/material aspects such as:

• Access control;
• Stand off distances, to keep people and bomber vehicles away from targets;
• Laminated glass;
• Framed structures;
• Bombshelter areas etc.

Social/Phsychological

General design aspects with mainly psychological designing out effects include the following (cf. "PluS Initial Report" by LKA NI 2010):

• Orientation;
• Good overview;
• Visibility;
• Lighting (physical surveillance);
• Video installations (formal/organized surveillance);
• Accessibility (access control);
• Vibrant urban environment and multiple social functions;
• Responsibility;
• Natural/informal surveillance (Eyes on the Street):
• Avoiding conflicts;
• Ensuring maintenance;
• Etc.

For sustainable implementation of “designing out”, following factors need to be considered throughout the planning process:

1. Integration of citizens through communication and participation methods;
2. Willingness of the participants to be part of a security partnership;
3. Decentralization and localization;
4. Commitment.

Critics

Designing out concepts can help reducing fear of crime, but at the same time it can soon raise ethical questions, e.g. by separating out different ‘types of people’. For example, certain architectures (often together with commercial policing by private companies) offer middle-class citizens new types of privacy and crime free zones in public commercial malls and places. This usually separates out other ethical groups (Garland 2001: 162).

See also ethics aspects.

Links and further Information

• To understand economic effects of designing out crime see Economic effects of anti-crime security measures.
• The Designing Out Crime Supplementary Planning Document provides guidance for developers and planners how to incorporate the principles of designing out crime in all development proposals.
• The Australian Designing Out Crime (DOC) research centre (NSW Department of Attorney General and Justice, in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney) applies a ‘Design Thinking’ approach and is a recognised as a leader in innovative, creative and socially responsive design. DOC explores problems to obtain an in-depth understanding of factors contributing to crime in specific problem situations.
• A platform for various activities, initiatives and knowledge/tool exchange is offered by the Design Out Crime Research Centre (AU).
• DOCA Designing Out Crime Association (UK) provides a forum on the concept of designing out crime to promote safer communities and reduce anti-social behaviour.
• A project called “Design out Crime” highlights design role and demonstrates how design can help to prevent crime. It provides the Designers' Guide for free download.
• Information and support for local organizations, practitioners and communities how to create safer communities and environments can be found on the International CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) Association.

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