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Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED, pronounced sep-ted) is a multidisciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior that focuses on changing how places are laid out, and how they look and feel. Fundamentally, CPTED suggests that you can change how people act in a place by altering its design. The goal is to reduce crime and fear, and improve quality of life. Police departments are more actively involved in making recommendations on building designs based on CPTED standards. New construction projects are encouraged to bring more appropriate users to a space and make it less hospitable to criminal activity.  CPTED has effectively been used for over 50 years.  Because of this, buildings are now becoming safer and crime is being reduced. Cities and universities realize that police department's input into building projects is imperative in reducing crime to the point that some cities and universities have mandated police input by passing ordinances and policies requiring police departments' review of all new building projects.

UKPD is available and has partnered with many departments and divisions within the University community to help evaluate and recommend options that help design out crime. The department's crime prevention specialist have professional designations to give you skilled recommendations to improving building security and operations.

Security Assessments

In addition to making recommendations during the conception of the building, individual departments also can request security assessments and threat assessments of their present buildings and offices to determine vulnerabilities and to make recommendations to improve the area's security. The department will receive a report stating the strengths and weaknesses and recommendations for improvement.

If you are interested in having your area surveyed and assessed for improved security enhancement contact the University of Kentucky Police Department's CPTED and Crime Prevention Specialist Senior Officer Alan Saylor.

Remember, proper employment of CPTED strategies can reduce crime and improve the quality of life.