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Can Design Support Community Safety and Crime Prevention Programmes in Areas of Socio-Economic Disadvantage?

NCJ Number
243816
Journal
Crime Prevention and Community Safety Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2013 Pages: 223-239
Author(s)
Olga Camacho Duarte
Date Published
August 2013
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article presents two examples of design projects that address community safety and crime prevention.
Abstract
Community projects that involve design students and stakeholders associated with Housing NSW have been carried out as part of the Community and Environment Project (CEP). The CEP is a partnership between Housing NSW (New South Wales) and two universities. Designing Out Crime at the University of Technology Sydney is one of the partners. The work focuses on developing design explorations addressing community safety, urban renewal, and crime prevention initiatives in Mount Druitt, NSW. This article discusses how these design processes have influenced partnerships and community development. The two design projects presented addressed safety and security, image and perception, and misuse of public spaces. Findings show that design processes could influence strategic directions within partnerships and organizations in charge of urban management. In addition, design projects offer rich visualizations of proposed future scenarios that influence image and perception. Finally, design explorations help relationship building, open communication, self-reflection and changes in the practices of partnerships. (Published Abstract)