This document establishes general principles and specifies the framework for a process of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).

It specifies the assessment of risk of crime problems (crime and/or feelings of insecurity) and the framework, process, measures and procedures aimed at reducing these risks in a specific new to build or existing environment. The crimes covered by this document are often of an opportunistic nature and are crimes against property (e.g. burglary, theft, vandalism, pickpocketing, arson), violent crimes (e.g. assaults, robbery, terrorism, harassment, sexual violence) as well as other criminal behaviour (see Annex A). The exact choice of which types of crime will be included in an approach has to be taken locally and is part of the processes and procedures described in this document. Annex A gives an overview of all foreseeable types of crime in all European languages. Feelings of insecurity are also defined as a ‘crime problem’ in this document.

This document provides guidelines and strategies for a CPTED-process in specific types of environments to prevent or reduce the risks of potential or identified crime problems. Guidelines for a step-by-step process are given to involve all stakeholders engaged in urban planning and environmental crime reduction. It also allows for all other stakeholders to be engaged – mainly local and regional authorities and residents/businesses/institutes – in the multi-disciplinary action needed to minimize the risks of crime problems (crime and feelings of insecurity).

This document introduces a process that is applicable to the planning process of new, as well as existing, urban areas. Such an area can be the neighbourhood or environment ranging from just one building to a few buildings or streets to a whole district. This document also introduces a higher-level framework that is often city wide – or regional or sometimes even national – and democratically legitimised for regular implementing CPTED in specific areas and for specific (new/existing) urban planning, design and management projects.

This document provides all relevant actors with guidelines aimed at reducing or managing the risk of crime problems in a specific defined environment.