Tech Peek

A weekly international round up featuring the latest in technology, equipment on defense, security and safety.

Sad to say in these times of heightened awareness about sustainability, but crime and fear are still not yet seen as sustainability issues.No self respecting architect would design a building that wasted non renewable materials or was energy inefficient, but unless the client specifies that they want Secured by Design compliance, the need for appropriate secure design (ironically much more aesthetically acceptable if well designed in) is seen as a cost saving opportunity and the need to retrofit security one crime starts to bite then has to be met with the locks and bolts that give rise to the fortress mentality jibe!Until appropriate security design for the built environment (including layout and physical specification) is mandatory, there is a clear message that this is ‘optional’. There has been huge progress in the policy support for safer environments in recent years, but until planning policy and building regulations leave no wriggle room for this aspect of sustainability to be avoided, developers will still be creating environments with entirely avoidable risks – and police forces will still see ‘crime prevention’ as an Aunt Sally where they too can make cost savings!

Schools

Published 26 September, 2007 Schools 5 Comments

Over the next 15 years, all secondary and 50% of primary schools will be rebuilt or refurbished. We therefore have a unique opportunity to influence the design of these important buildings which are the heart of our communities. I know that design can have powerful influence on teachers and childrens experience of school life, and particularly on problems such as bullying and theft. Bullying is the most common reason for children to call Childline. I am therefore keen to ensure that we make the most of this opportunity.What can you suggest to help design out crime from schools?

Business crime

Published 26 September, 2007 Business Crime 2 Comments

I have no doubt that your ideas will ask a good deal of industry and commerce to design their products or manage their services in ways which minimise problems of crime and disorder. But businesses also suffer from crime, and I am concerned that we do as much as we can to prevent businesses becoming crime victims. Retail crime is a significant concern to business, which is why we recently set up a National Retail Crime Steering Group.How can we help them design out crime?

Anti-Crime Design & Technology Alliance

Published 18 September, 2007 Design & Technology Alliance 1 Comment

An independent Alliance of design experts from product and manufacturing,
builtenvironment and service design sectors have been asked to raise the
profile within industry of howinnovative design can tackle crime. It is one
part of arenewed focus on designing out crime in the Government’s new Crime
Strategy led by Jacqui Smith, Home Secretary. See Cutting Crime (pdf)
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