Environmental Design Guide launch targets safer Canterbury

A unique publication aimed to help reduce crime in communities through better design of the environment is being launched in the Mayor’s Lounge of the Christchurch City Council at 4.30pm today.

The new “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Guide, Safer Canterbury, Creating Safer Communities” is being launched by the Canterbury Safety Working Party, a partnership of all Canterbury local bodies, the Christchurch City Council, Banks Peninsula, Waimakariri, Selwyn, and Hurunui district councils, along with New Zealand Police and Neighbourhood Support.

The guide is based on the premise that people’s behaviour within the urban environment, particularly in terms of offending, is influenced by the design of that environment. The guide, therefore, applies a range of design initiatives and principles to a site to minimise the potential for that site to facilitate and support criminal behaviour.

Canterbury District Commander of Police, Superintendent Sandra Manderson, will speak at the launch about how the local bodies, Police and Neighbournood Support united to produce the guide with the hope of contributing to a safer Canterbury.

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