- Case Study A - Primary School
- Case Study B - Secondary School
- Case Study C - Hospital
A&E Department
Case Study A - Primary School
This primary school, based in a city suburb has a site of approximately
9000 squared metres. The school faced two crime risks. The first
were
acts perpetrated by youths trespassing into the school grounds
and committing
vandalism.
The second reflected parental fears of child abduction.
-
The crimes and
anti-social behaviour this primary school were imported
from the outside community and did not arise from
the very young school population. The aims specific to
the school were: to identify why the site was susceptible
to trespass
by youths out of hours; how the current design controls
access;
and how the design could increase the safety and security
of pupils during the school day.
-
The greatest fear of crime risk stated by
parents was that of abduction of the children. There is a very
low probability of abduction,
but given the easy permeability of the school boundaries, it
was decided to address what was obviously perceived by parents
as a
real danger by reducing the risk further.
-
The main problem that
the school faced was from trespass into the grounds out of
school hours and resultant damage to the building
facades. During the 12-month period preceding the start of
the project, there was only one incident involving trespass into
the
school building during the school day.
-
The majority of movements
by pupils into and out of the site could not to be surveyed
from the school. Only the main entrance, which
supported 15% of flows, could be overseen.
-
The location where
trespass took place was to the south of the site from a pedestrian
footpath that was poorly surveyed. Although
to the north and west, the fence was much lower, it was well
surveyed from neighbouring buildings and as such trespassers
did not enter
the site from these routes.
Improvements and benefits Improvement measures included:
-
Target hardening of the southern boundary to the site to
prevent access. This was addressed by installing new mesh fencing
high enough to deter intruders, but being see-through,
maintains good natural surveillance.
-
Supporting
natural surveillance from neighbouring buildings by removing
temporary buildings within the site that restricted views.
-
Aligning
the main entrance to the site with the main entrance of the
building to provide a more direct route. This was also signed
to aid wayfinding.
Additional benefits include :
These would not have been possible without the introduction of
new security measures
Reviewing the stages of the assessment:
Stage 1: Crime database and map
 |
Summarising the main points:
-
The majority of crimes and incidents recorded were outside
school hours, and it was likely that there is under-reporting
of crimes and incidents as many crimes occurred when
staff members were not present to report them.
-
The majority of the crimes were in the school grounds
or to the exterior of the building.
-
Over half of the recorded crimes involved a youth.
-
The majority of criminal damage involved temporary
classrooms on the site. These huts were also more vulnerable
than the main building, partly due to the quality of
materials and design but also because there is a lack
of natural surveillance over the area.
|
Stage 2: "Walking
your site” maps
 |
The findings of the site evaluation included:
-
The main entrance was not aligned with reception.
-
There were several breaks in the fence, which was not
high enough to deter intruders.
-
There were several secluded areas where visibility
was severely restricted.
-
There was litter and broken glass on the footpath which
runs past the school grounds.
|
 |
Visibility graph analysis of surrounding area
Reviewing the map, there were three key issues that stood out:
-
The main streets surrounding the site are well surveyed
and are key vehicular & pedestrian movement routes.
-
The footpath to the south of the school playing field
had very low levels of natural surveillance.
-
The route from the train station, towards the west of
the site is poorly surveyed.
|
Stage 3: Natural surveillance
and CCTV coverage maps
 |
Visibility
The school has a simple internal layout with a highly visible
central route which goes through the school hall to the west
of the plan. The classrooms leading off this all have very
similar high levels of visibility.
The benefit of this is that it is easy for staff to survey other classrooms
and the corridor spaces. One problem could be that without any physical control
measures, the design does not control access into any sensitive areas. |
 |
Accessibility
The accessibility of the building interior from the building
entrances shows how accessible each of the classrooms are
from the entrances. A map showing this can be viewed by clicking
the thumbnail to the left. It shows that each classroom is
similarly accessible, and all can be accessed within 2 changes
of direction on entering the building. This means that ease
of wayfinding is supported. However as discussed previously
it means that the access control measures implemented at
the school are vital to prevent people accessing the classrooms
without permission. |
Stage 4: Risk assessment
 |
Risk Assessment table |
 |
Risk Assessment matrix |
Stage 5: Developing the strategy - key findings
 |
Some of the key findings are described in the map which
can be viewed by clicking the thumbnail to the left.
-
Many of the entrances were unsurveyed
-
There were several unsurveyed informal access routes
to the site
-
There is broken glass and litter on the footpaths around
the site
-
There is an abandoned industrial area south of the site,
so protecting the southern boundary is important
|
Stage 6: Implementation
- changes to the site
Some of the major changes to the site are described below
before
|
 Main
Entrance
The main entrance gate to the site was repositioned
to align with the main building entrance. Staff can now oversee
visitors, and visitors themselves are less likely to lose
their way and stray into unauthorised areas. |
after
|
before
 |
 New Fencing
The broken
fencing allowed intruders to access the site has been replaced.
The combined wooden and mesh fencing shown on the upper thumbnail
to the
right makes new
furniture and play equipment within the school grounds possible.
The high mesh fencing shown in the lower thumbnail also allows
the site to be surveyed from outside but prevents unauthorised
access. |
after
after
|
before
|
 Cleaner Streets
The footpath behind the school grounds has
been cleared. By looking after this area it feels inhabited
and well used rather than abandoned and dangerous. This may
encourage more ordinary pedestrians to use the path, who
will in turn contribute towards the natural surveillance
of the school grounds. |
after
|
| |
 New Landscaping
There is new landscaping at the front of the school. This
helps visitors find their way to the main entrance to the
building and makes unauthorised access more difficult. The
landscaping consists of low height shrubs and plants which
do not offer hiding places to potential intruders
|
after
 |
|
 Pupil gate
The pupil gate is locked at all times other
than the start and end of the school day. |
|
| |
 Vehicle gate
There is a new mesh vehicle gate.
It is important to inform users of any new policies such
as procedures for locking gates in order to reap the maximum
benefits of a scheme. |
after
 |
|
 Additional benefits
There are additional benefits from the introduction
of new security measures, which would otherwise have
been impossible. These
include new wooden
furniture,
play equipment and blackboards installed in the playground.
|
after
after
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Case Study B - Secondary School
[To be added soon]
top of page
Case Study
C - Hospital A&E Department
[To be added soon]
|
