Response from Mr Andrew Hunton, Cumbria Constabulary and obo Police and Crime Commissioner
1. Mr Andrew Hunton, Cumbria Constabulary and obo Police and Crime Commissioner : 12 Jul 2017 15:06:00
Please indicate which Development Management policy or document you are commenting on. You will need to use a separate form for each policy you wish to comment on.
DM2 Design
Please make your comments in the box below, making it clear which policy or document your response relates to.
The Constabulary appreciates the opportunity to participate in this consultation.
Proposed changes to Policy DM2 are particularly relevant in our proactive work to reduce crime through the planning process.
The wording of Principle 4 is acknowledged and welcomed, but it may be enhanced and consolidated as follows:
"4. Development proposals should create and maintain safe and secure environments through designing out crime and designing in community safety by:
• integrating security measures as part of the design
• ensuring public and communal spaces, buildings, streets and paths are directly overlooked through natural surveillance. Routes must be designed to serve the development rather than provide unrestricted public access
• ensuring there is clear and obvious demarcation between public and private spaces utilising appropriate physical boundary treatments or landscaping elements and ensuring buildings directly address streets and routes avoiding presentation of blank frontages or gables
• consulting with the police Crime Prevention Design Advisor an early stage"
Developers must appreciate that effective crime prevention measures go beyond just environmental layout. For example, physical measures (i.e. the specification of doors, windows and other barriers) have equal importance in disrupting criminal activity. Council Policy already refers to the requirement for appropriate physical measures - in S13 (Security in Town Centres) and S14 (Shop Fronts) relating to security grilles and glazing. Therefore, it shall be helpful if developers are required to demonstrate what other measures shall be incorporated to comply with Principle 4.
It may also be useful to review the Shopfront Design Toolkit 2004 (page 6) and to consider the wording of DM20:
• Incorporate designs for security at an early stage of the process.
• Visually acceptable means of improving security include the use of toughened glass to prevent vandalism, laminated glass to prevent theft, shatter proof adhesive films on existing glazed areas and internally mounted lattice grilles.
It is now feasible to dispense with unsightly shutters, by the deployment of exterior doors compliant with a recognised security standard (e.g. LPS 1175 ) and including laminated glazing compliant with BS EN 356:2000, LPS 1270 or specialist ‘Hammerglass’.
Professional measures, such as security fog generators or forensic fluid contaminant sprays (all installed internally) will contribute very discreetly to the overall security package. The ‘traditional’ measures of intruder alarms and CCTV are still viable and technology continues to improve the effectiveness of these devices.
I shall be pleased to discuss any crime prevention or security related issues arising from this policy consultation and may impact on other items in the Development Plan Document.
