Making public spaces and events safer for women

Planning for safety

A community that is safe for women is safer for everyone. Safer communities enable women to have greater access to public places and more opportunity to participate in public life. This creates more lively and liveable public spaces and makes good economic sense. Fear of crime costs a community socially, culturally and financially.[1]

Design for safe communities

Perceptions of personal safety, as well as actual safety, influence the extent to which places and spaces are used. The design of streets and places can reduce crime and anti-social behaviours making places and spaces feel safer, which in turn can enhance the physical, mental and social wellbeing of community members.

Information on designing for safer communities go to may be found at Healthy Spaces and Places, which is a unique collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia demonstrating the importance of taking a national perspective to:

• managing our environments, particularly how the physical characteristics of where Australians live, work and play can influence their physical and mental health and wellbeing;
• investing in Australia's future health and wellbeing;
• reducing health costs by preventive measures;
• fostering collaborative partnerships; and
• supporting social connectivity.

Crime prevention through environmental design

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is based on the theory that the proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to safe and user-friendly public places that reduce the incidence and fear of crime.

The three main concepts behind CPTED are:

• Presence of people: crimes against people and property are less likely to occur if other people are around.
• Surveillance: crimes against people are less likely to occur if people in adjoining buildings and spaces are able to see what is happening.
• Safe choices: giving people choices about where to be and how to anticipate and respond to problems, including having alternative routes.[2]

CPTED Audits

An audit and site assessment of any built environment can reveal improvements that can be made to increase women's perception of safety. An audit may [3]:

• Determine community safety factors which increase actual and perceived vulnerability for users.
• Determine measures and design applications which will enhance the safety of a site for users.
• Identify measures and design application which will deter potential offenders.

 Key elements to assess at urban sites are:

• Lighting
• Signage
• Sightlines
• Isolation
• Maintenance
• Movement predictors
• Entrapment sites
• Escape routes
• Activity uses
• Territorial definition 

Public events

When planning public events, the safety of all participants should be paramount.

The Australian Government's National Crime Prevention Programme, in conjunction with the National Anti-Crime Strategy, commissioned Planning Safe Public Events Practical Guidelines which are practical guidelines to assist with the planning and management of public events to minimise, or prevent, crime and violence and to maximise safety and enjoyment.

References

[1]  The Safe Women Project, Plan it Safe: a guide for making public places safer for women, accessed 20 November 2013.

[2] State of Queensland, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design: Guidelines for Queensland, 2007 accessed 22 November 2013.

[3 ] Coe, M, CPTED Audit & Site Assessment Checklists, 2005, accessed 25 November 2013 at Goodbye Graffitti, Western Australia.

Women's experience of violence