Environment and Crime
There are five main features of environmental design that play a crucial role in crime prevention. These five are natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement, target hardening as well as maintenance. In my neighborhood, there are only three critical features of good environmental design that exist. These three are natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, as well as target hardening (Hipp et al., 1583). For the case of natural surveillance, the houses are a bit raised, and this has been able to enable one to see a couple of things or see a stranger approaching from a distance. There have been many cases where neighbors have been able to call 911 and give more information about the appearance of the suspects, and such information has led to arrests. It is clear that the nature in which the place is designed, one can see most of the people who get in the neighborhood. One can also be able to see those who leave; hence in case of any issue, the police can quickly be informed.
On the issue of territorial reinforcement, there have been clear boundaries as well as a receptionist at the main gate to the estate. As a result of this, it has been easy for the visitors to be directed because the homes are already marked. The security signage is indeed marked; hence the visitors are indeed able to locate the police they want to be addressed to quickly. As a result, the receptionists will also keep records of whether all visitors went to; therefore, in the event, there are some criminal activities on the part of the visitors, there will be initial information that will be able to kick start the case as well as the investigation. On target hardening, the existence of the grills on the door will certainly make it hard for anyone to be broken in. The fact that the homes are also fenced is also a huge boost in the improvement of security.
The CCTV cameras are mostly on the foyer leading to the houses. There are also CCTV cameras at the main gate near the receptionists, which has made it easy to capture the details of the persons coming as well as the vehicles that are either heading to the neighborhood or out of the neighborhood. On the issue of defensible space as well as an option for the victim to hide. This was well thought about when the houses were being designed (Shiode et al., n.p). There is indeed a back door that one can be able to escape through when they feel they are under attack. For the defensible space, it is clear that the houses are spaces with a vast parking space as well as some extra playground between the houses has undoubtedly been able to act as defensible space in the event of emergencies.