A Comparative Analysis of Crime Risk Assessments and their Application in Greater Manchester and New South Wales

Abstract

While the principles of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) are well documented and feature in design and planning documents, they are still not typically considered and successfully incorporated in the design and planning of a new development. Failure to incorporate the principles of CPTED in the initial design of a development can delay the planning application if later changes are required, impact on crime if left unattended, and impact negatively upon the aesthetics of the development if retrospective crime prevention measures are required. This paper describes how attempts have been made to embed the principles of CPTED in the planning process in Greater Manchester and New South Wales. It outlines the mechanisms these two jurisdictions have adopted namely the Crime Impact Statement (Greater Manchester) and the Crime Risk Assessment (New South Wales) and provides a critical analysis of the similarities and differences between the two approaches. Through this comparative analysis, key positive features of each approach will be identified, leading to the identification of potential ways forward in embedding CPTED in design and planning processes.