Crime Prevention through Environmental Design and the Challenges of Austerity, Planning Reforms and the Crime Decline

This roundtable will explore the impact of austerity measures, planning reforms and the property crime decline on crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) across three jurisdictions (England, NSW & New Zealand). Despite geo-political and juridical differences, these jurisdictions are currently governed by conservative governments with intentions of reforming planning systems. ‘Reducing red-tape’ and stimulating building and construction in times of austerity are touted as justification for far-reaching reforms of planning systems. The roundtable will explore the impact of the mooted and introduced planning reforms across the jurisdictions and draw on professional and empirical work of the discussants. Key policy reforms will be discussed and compared, with particular attention given to the impact on CPTED practises and procedures. Similarly, consideration will be given to the impact of the property crime decline across these jurisdictions and the challenges this creates for maintaining political interest and policy focus on preventing burglary and other offences through housing design. In considering these issues, this roundtable will explore dimensions of comparative and contemporary CPTED, the influence of the market economy on planning regimes, the relationship between offence rates and crime prevention policies, and the long-term viability of particular approaches to crime prevention in the face of substantial falls in crime.

This roundtable will bring together contributors and build on a Special Edition of Safer Communities published in November 2013.