Crime prevention

Careful attention to the planning of towns, estates and individual buildings can help reduce crime.

Government Policy - Circular 5/94 'Planning Out Crime'

Planning Applications and Decisions

Planning applications can help reduce crime, when considered early on and mixed with measures such as estate/town centre management and CCTV.

Crime prevention is important when considering planning applications and decisions. Developers should work with the Police and us, to ensure their developments have crime prevention measures built into their design.

Mixed-use areas

If areas (e.g. town centres) are occupied after dark, the presence of people will reduce vandalism and crime.

A mix of uses (e.g. housing and entertainment) will ensure an area does not become deserted and therefore a potentially threatening environment.

Housing Estates

When designing/regenerating housing estates, it has been shown it is possible to reduce crime using measures such as:

• Varied tenancies (different age-groups in the same area).
• The creation of smaller community areas.
• Facilities for young people.
• Proposals to create a more attractive environment.

Attractive, well cared for environments are less likely to be vandalised. However, the crime prevention measures often have to be balanced against visual design. For example, it is important to avoid tall hedges, which could hide criminal activity, but the use of spiky bushes can help deter crime.

Footpaths should be straight, wide, well lit and well supervised by passers by and overlooking residents. Car parks should be well lit and supervised where possible. Shutters on shops may be necessary but should be attractively designed, for example with open grilles, to avoid 'dead' shopping frontages and graffiti.

Suggested Guidelines

The following guidelines should be used when creating and considering planning applications.

General

• Crime prevention should be taken into account in the planning of all developments.
• The Police Architectural Liaison Officer should be consulted about major development proposals.

Town Centres

• A mix of uses - shop, food and drink and entertainment, and residential should be encouraged to ensure the presence of people throughout day and night.
• Avoid high-concentrations of uses (e.g. pubs), which could cause noise and other public order problems.
• Security shutters, where needed, should be of an open grille design, incorporated into the shop front's design and painted to match. Special consideration should be given within Conservation Areas. They are not normally allowed on Listed Buildings.

Housing Estates

• Larger estates should have safe open spaces where children can play without disturbing residents.
• All public spaces - roads, footpaths and open spaces and play areas should be well lit and overlooked by homes. Footpaths to the rear of properties should be avoided where possible.
• Private spaces, such as back gardens, should be separated by high walls or fences.
• Landscaping should be carefully considered. Avoid creating hiding places close to footpaths. Spiky bushes could be used to deter unwanted visitors.

Commercial Development

• Comments on landscaping as above.
• Security considerations should be integrated into the design process. Consideration should be given to building design, security lighting and fencing.
• Fences should be attractive and robust. Chain link fences, concrete post and panel fences should be avoided in prominent locations.

Contact Details

For further help and advice, please contact the

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership office
Telephone: 0121 704 8361
Email: cdrp@solihull.gov.uk

or Planning Services
Telephone:0121 704 6373
Email: developmentcontrol@solihull.gov.uk