'Designing out Crime' is a crime prevention strategy which aims to reduce opportunities for crime through the design and management of the built and landscaped environment.
It is also known as CPTED (pronounced ‘sep-ted’), which is an acronym for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. It is based on the theory that “the proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime, and an improvement in the quality of life”.
For more information on Designing out Crime click on the following links:
What is Designing out Crime
Designing out Graffiti
Designing out graffiti is about applying CPTED principles with graffiti reduction in mind. The following links will take you to fact sheets providing information on designing out graffiti through landscaping, lighting & surveillance and protective coatings.
Read more for a general overview on designing out graffiti.
Almost all homes have some sort of fencing (or screening), to mark property boundaries and create privacy between neighbours. Read more about how to maximise the benefits of the surrounding landscape to reduce a graffiti vandal's ease of offending.
The use of lighting can be both beneficial and detrimental in addressing graffiti vandalism – on the one hand it can deter vandals because they are ‘exposed’, while on the other hand it can attract vandals because it makes it easier for them to see. Read more about how to use lighting to deter graffiti vandals and enhance the safety of your space.
There are measures you can take to reduce incidents of graffiti vandalism on surfaces such as fencing and other structural walls. There are surface coatings that can be applied and natural foliage that can be used as coverage, which will deter offenders from vandalising surfaces. Read more about how to use protective coatings to your advantage.
Please remember to consult your local council in relation to any structural modifications/additions to your property, to ensure local building standards are met.
This page was last updated October 2009
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