Book Description

This report identifies the clear link between crime and the concept of sustainability. Sustainability has for too long been considered just a 'green' or economic issue. This study makes the case that a major factor influencing sustainability, longevity and quality of life is crime. Where crime is unconsidered or uncontrolled, the environment suffers, buildings suffer and quality of life is reduced. In such environments, people who can, will move out and people who cannot will withdraw, leading in some cases to unsustainable environments and communities.

The report (56 pages long) explores that link between sustainability and crime. The project reviewed current literature in the field and then undertook a number of case studies to cover a range of scenarios from housing associations specialising in small village developments for local residents only, to a section of one of the largest cities in the UK. These studies identified common factors that appear to enhance sustainability and reduce crime, for example, community cohesion, low resident turnover and specific property maintenance programmes.

Finally, these themes were built into a matrix tool that identifies patterns related to crime and sustainability, explains the rationale behind them and provides indicators and measures that can be used to benchmark the issues and thus manage the crime problem.

Local Authorities, Housing Associations, designers, police and other disciplines will benefit from this guidance. It has been presented in a chart format that enables the user to identify their chosen feature from those supplied and then consider the details with respect to application and use. If this guidance is applied in an integrated and practical manner there is every confidence that it will lead to less crime and to improvements in sustainability, lifespan and quality of life.