VOLUME 1 HUMAN SETTLEMENT PLANNING AND ... - CSIR

GUIDELINES FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENT PLANNING AND DESIGNparks linked through the street network allow peopleto pass through, stop and chat. Therefore, encouragethe establishment of more small open spaces ratherthan a few large but unmanageable ones. Thesurrounding communities should also be encouragedto take responsibility for these smaller public spacesthrough community committees which can befacilitated by local authorities.• The edges of public open spaces and privateproperties should be clearly defined so that bothresidents and passers-by can readily recogniseboundaries between public, semi-public andprivate spaces.• through the use of street furniture or otherprominent landmarks.Access and escape routesAccess and escape routes are available to both theoffender and the victim. Areas of safety that have highlevels of passive surveillance and public visibility canact as safe spaces for potential victims.The sites of certain types of criminal events are oftendeliberately chosen by the offender, before the act, foraccess to escape routes. Car highjackings are also oftenplanned to allow quick escape. The layout of transportroutes and the juxtaposition of different types ofspace influence the ease of access and escape. Areas ofrefuge (e.g. vacant land where people can hide) whichhave clear routes of escape from a crime are obvioushavens for offenders. An example would be tracts ofopen or agricultural land near a neighbourhood,where stolen goods from thefts can be hidden.There are a number of ways to limit easy access andescape routes for criminals and promote escape routesfor victims through environmental design.Figure 5.8.1.8 Clearly definable edgesThe definition of boundaries improves the potentialfor ownership to be understood and exercised overdifferent spaces (see Soft Open Spaces (Sub-chapter5.4), specifically, edges of parks and play spaces).There are a number of ways to define edges:• through planting;• with a low wall or fence;• through lighting;• by changing the surface level;• by using different surface materials; and• Carefully plan the location, size and design of largeopen spaces such as large parks and golf courses soas to avoid their becoming areas of refuge andescape for offenders.Open spaces that are not visible in their entirety and donot lend themselves to constant surveillance can presenta problem. Crime statistics suggest a correlationbetween the location of incidents of housebreaking andaccess to large open spaces. Both the size and locationof these areas are important factors to consider.• Avoid ending roads on vacant or undevelopedland. Rather ensure that these end at propertyedges, at controlled open spaces or in recognisedpedestrian paths.Figure 5.8.1.9 Avoid ending roads on vacant or undeveloped landEnvironmental design for safer communities Chapter 5.8.15