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What Is It?
C.P.T.E.D. (pronounced SEP-TED) is an urban planning tool that emphasizes the use of
physical design features and land use characteristics to reduce or remove opportunities
for criminal activity and to deter criminal behavior.
Five Elements:
- TERRITORIALITY - Defining your property as YOUR space to make criminals
feel unwelcome. It’s an expression of ownership and pride. Fencing is one component
of Territoriality.
- NATURAL SURVEILLANCE - The intended users can observe the property.
Effective lighting of a property is an example of natural surveillance.
- ACTIVITY SUPPORT - Placing activity where individuals become part of
the natural surveillance.
- ACCESS CONTROL - Controlling and reducing the number of access points
to a property. Gated communities are an example of access control.
- MAINTENANCE - Regularly scheduled maintenance routine will ensure the
property demonstrates territoriality and natural surveillance.
Safe By Design vs. Retrofit:
Ideally, buildings in Scottsdale should be constructed with CPTED concepts built in.
There are buildings that have already been built that must be retrofit to reduce criminal
opportunities. For either safe by design or retrofit information, call either the
Scottsdale Police Department at (480) 312-5696, or the Citizen and Neighborhood Resources at
(480) 312-3111.