Files and links (1)
Published Version (Advanced Access)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
A CPTED audit tool to assess crime and safety in town centres
Safer Communities, Vol.24(4), pp.325-339
2025
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, implementation and validity of a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) audit tool designed to assess the crime and safety needs of a regional town in Queensland, Australia.
Design/methodology/approach
A 102-item CPTED audit tool was created to determine safety and crime prevention opportunities of a regional town centre. The accuracy of the tool was assessed by comparing audit findings to other measurements of safety and crime in the town centre. Statistical analyses were also undertaken to assess the tool’s validity and reliability.
Findings
Findings demonstrate the tool’s effectiveness in identifying crime and safety issues in public spaces, as well as its validity and daytime reliability. Further refinements and training are recommended for night-time audit use.
Practical implications
This research provides an assessment tool and methodology for understanding crime and safety to reduce crime and disorder in a wide range of public areas.
Originality/value
Since the 1980s, a variety of CPTED site audit tools have been created to assess crime and safety in public areas. Despite their popularity, few audit tools have been rigorously tested and published, especially in town centres. This study empirically tests a novel CPTED audit tool across multiple CPTED dimensions simultaneously.
Details
- Title
- A CPTED audit tool to assess crime and safety in town centres
- Authors
- Natalee Cairns (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and SocietyEmily Moir - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and SocietyTim Prenzler - University of the Sunshine CoastSusan Rayment-McHugh - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
- Publication details
- Safer Communities, Vol.24(4), pp.325-339
- Publisher
- Emerald Publishing Limited
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1108/SC-02-2025-0010
- ISSN
- 2042-8774
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2025, Natalee Cairns, Emily Moir, Tim Prenzler and Susan Rayment-McHugh. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
- Grant note
- This research was funded by the Sunshine Coast Council.
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Student Services and Engagement; School of Law and Society; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991140304902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
10 File views/ downloads
92 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Web Of Science research areas
- Criminology & Penology
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites