Helping Create Safe Communities & Neighbourhoods

By: Steve Woolrich

The RDC slogan is certainly thought provoking and after meeting some of the students from Sociology 325A earlier today, I was impressed.  I was invited by their instructor to speak on the subject of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).  It took me back to my college days when we had the privilege of having guest speakers come in and share their experience on various subjects.  I wondered how the class would react but it was quickly evident that the subject matter was of interest, what a relief.

My presentation highlighted the key principles of CPTED, also available on this site.  However, this class currently studying criminology received my pictorial version.  A picture paints a thousand words and in this case, photos can be a very powerful way of learning the impact CPTED can have on any physical space.  It was interesting to see some of the class reactions and there were some great questions raised by these upcoming professionals.

In one of the handouts I was given in preparation for my visit, an anonymous quote read “Crime, like disease, is not interesting; it is something to be done away with by general consent, and that is all about it.” I suggested that our mission should be to empower communities to reduce the incidence and fear of crime by supporting a proactive, comprehensive and sustainable approach to crime prevention.  These students will be the next generation of experts in professions such as sociology, criminology, policing, security and corrections.  Their future actions should not be underestimated and they do “understand” the important roles they will play.  I concluded with a quote from John F. Kennedy that reads “There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”

Visit RDC at www.rdc.ab.ca

Filed under Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, Odds & Ends