This paper reports on the findings of a collaborative project (funded by the Home Office and managed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment -CABE) which was conducted in late 2009 and early 2010. The project set out to strengthen and update the evidence base on the impact of design on a range of crime types -with a specific focus upon housing developments acclaimed for their innovative design and award winning architecture. This paper presents the findings of an in-depth assessment of the impact of housing design features on crime. Utilising a comprehensive data collection exercise, the specific design features of thousands of homes were collated and assessed against police recorded crime data. The design features were based upon the key elements of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) including road layout, house design, surveillance, territoriality, car parking, communal space, management and maintenance and physical security. The unique and painstaking methodology not only provided an excellent dataset for analysis, but also highlighted the need both for greater conceptual clarity within CPTED and for crime-risk assessments to be based on the careful operationalisation and measurement of CPTED factors. As well as assessing the impact of specific (and combined) design features upon crime, the research also resulted in the production of a new data collection tool designed to address the weaknesses of existing checklists in assessing innovative contemporary developments, which are often unconventional in nature. The paper explores the degree of conflict and/or synergy between the traditional principles of CPTED and contemporary directions in architecture and design. Finally the paper considers the extent to which traditional CPTED principles remain relevant within contemporary residential developments and explores whether areas of revision are required.

Secured by Design (SBD) is an award scheme that aims to encourage housing developers to design out crime at the planning or concept stage. The scheme is managed by the Association of Chief Police Offi cers Crime Reduction Initiatives (ACPO CPI) while the dayto-day delivery of the scheme is conducted by Architectural Liaison Offi cers (ALOs) or Crime Prevention Design Advisors (CPDAs) working for individual police forces throughout the United Kingdom. The scheme sets standards for compliance that developments must meet to be awarded SBD status. This article presents the fi ndings of research conducted over a 10-year period (1999 -2009) into the effectiveness of the SBD scheme as a crime reduction measure. Utilising a variety of methods, the research aims to establish whether residents living within SBD developments experience less crime and fear of crime than their non-SBD counterparts; whether SBD developments show less visual signs of crime and disorder than their non-SBD counterparts; and fi nally, whether properties built to the SBD standard are able to sustain any crime reduction benefi ts over a 10-year period.

Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) represents a multifaceted approach to crime reduction that draws upon theories from environmental criminology, architecture and urban design and requires the commitment of agencies as diverse as police, planners, and housing developers. Its importance as a crime reduction approach has been formalized through strategy, policy, and regulation and its effectiveness has been confirmed in evaluations (see Brown, unpublished data, Pascoe, 1999, Armitage, 2000, Teedon et al., 2009; 2010, Armitage and Monchuk, 2011). Yet there remains a lack of clarity regarding CPTED’s definition, scope, and crucially, the fundamental components that form its definition. Conscious of the need for clarity and consistency, this article presents the findings from in-depth interviews with a sample of 10 incarcerated, adult, male burglars and 10 Designing Out Crime Officers in England and Wales. The method was exploratory and inductive, with participants being encouraged to express their perceptions of housing design features and the association of these features with burglary risk. The findings reveal key similarities between the users and abusers of CPTED and confirm (and elevate) the significance of features such as surveillance. However, other features of design traditionally considered as critical to burglary risk are afforded less importance—raising questions regarding terminology, weighting and redefinition.

IntroductionWhen designing a new residential housing development, an increasing number of factors have to be considered by the client (e.g. the architect or developer) to ensure that the planning application satisfies national and local planning requirements (see HMSO, 2010 and DCLG, 2010a). A recent and pertinent example of an agenda which has to be carefully considered and embedded in the design of new housing developments is the Code for Sustainable Homes, which seeks to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly development (DCLG, 2008). Additional factors which have to accompany a proposed planning application include ecological, flood risk and transport assessments (Manchester City Council, 2010).Owing to the number of elements whose consideration is necessary to obtain planning permission, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (hereinafter CPTED) or attempting to design out crime and design in crime prevention may not be viewed as a priority by built environment professionals (such as architects and planners) and consequently not be incorporated. For those whose business is crime prevention, this can prove frustrating and can be seen to compromise the quality of life of future residents. The development may require additional funding to incorporate security measures retrospectively to try and curtail the problems, the cost extending to the aesthetics of the development, marred by add-on CCTV cameras and security furniture. Content and ScopeThis paper is predominantly a summary piece which encompasses a review of the relevant literature and policy documentation relating to CPTED and its application. The paper discusses: the importance of reducing crime by reducing the opportunities for it to occur; the importance of CPTED and its application and how CPTED can be embedded into the planning process. The paper provides an outline of how CPTED is delivered within Greater Manchester by Greater Manchester Police (hereinafter GMP). It is important to note at this juncture, that the author is currently in the process of conducting an independent comprehensive evaluation of the delivery of CPTED in Greater Manchester which forms part of a doctoral thesis which will be completed in 2013. The paper concludes with a number of practice points. Experience to date has suggested some practice points which may be safely advanced for consideration, given their provisional status.

The aim of the paper is to illustrate how the housing system in the United Kingdom (UK) has contributed to creating vulnerabilities during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Drawing on the concept of ontological security we look at how living with housing insecurity whilst enduring poor housing conditions has impacted the lives of those living in households. The paper draws on semi‐structured interviews with 50 residents and 8 housing professionals. The findings outline the grinding impact of the pandemic on the ontological security of residents and the coping strategies adopted by a wider range of households who are now increasingly vulnerable. A number of people went into lockdown in vulnerable situations, experiencing deep inequalities and living in poorly maintained homes. This has weakened the ontological security experienced by many households. These represent significant failings of the housing system and housing policy impacting on the health and wellbeing of a wider cohort of people creating additional vulnerabilities.