The Welsh Government, the Designing Out Crime Group Wales and Secured by Design (SBD) have launched Safer Places Wales to support the prevention of crime through placemaking and urban design
Safer Places Wales sets out how successful planning and street design can discourage criminal activity and reduce the fear of crime. It provides practical advice for planners, developers, local authorities and stakeholders to support them in embedding crime prevention principles into the design and planning process. It is intended to help both developers and decision makers consider issues of community safety at the beginning of the design process and encourage conversations at the concept stage.
Written by policing, in partnership with senior planners from the Welsh Government, it is a guide that brings together best practice and provides clear direction as to what is required of design in order to reduce crime. It focuses on the attributes of creating safe and sustainable communities, and looks to resolve many of the planning issues and tensions that appear to conflict with one another causing difficulties, delays and expense for all, often leaving communities vulnerable.
Safer Places Wales provides direction on many topics that have often been lacking this direction, such as describing how communities can be connected to local amenities whilst not undermining security, thus encouraging direct travel by walking, cycling, and the use of public transport.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: “The Safer Places Wales guidance represents an important step forward in how we think about safety within community spaces. Places that are well designed, well connected, and well used are places that feel safer and function better.
“The new principles will also help us deliver environments that are more welcoming, more accessible, and more reflective of the communities they serve.”
Michael Brooke, head of government advocacy & police engagement at Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, said: “This document demonstrates what can be achieved when partnerships are formed and the different disciplines of planning and policing work together. By the use of subtle yet meaningful design techniques that are incorporated early into future development proposals, communities will be safer in their homes and fear crime less for generations to come. It’s a marvellous achievement and one I am very proud to have been a part of.”
Mike Harvey, designing out crime officer from South Wales Police, said: “As Chair of the Designing out Crime Group Wales I was delighted to be involved with Police CPI and the Welsh Government in producing this guide and would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the process of producing this document.
“The guidance provides practical advice for planners, developers, local authorities, and stakeholders to support them in embedding crime prevention principles into the design and planning process. It is intended to help both developers and decision makers to consider issues of community safety at the beginning of the design process and for them to involve Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) and have conversations with them at the concept stage. The aim is to work in partnership and to make places that are safer and to promote safe, sustainable and attractive environments.”
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