CPTED Second Generation Principles

The environment can affect behaviour but it cannot create community. It is the strength of the social interactions within a community the ultimately create safe environments.

Second Generation CPTED produces a holistic understanding of a physical environment and the people who use it by emphasizing the strength of the community fabric.

Social Cohesion

A socially-cohesive community is one where residents and visitors participate in community life, have a sense of responsibility and decision-making within their neighbourhood, and seek methods of conflict resolution. The physical environment can support these interpersonal dynamics by considering how people use and experience a space and participate in activities together. Environments designed to accommodate restorative practice, community markets, workshops, festivals, social organizations and placemaking projects provide the means for neighbours to build relationships within the local and broader community.

Threshold Capacity

Drawing from social ecology, this principle pertains to land-use, scale/size, density, diversity (socially, culturally and in land uses), and available resources (economic, natural, common facilities etc.) Too little of one element or too much of another affects Threshold Capacity. For example, too many bars or nightclubs might destabilise a community and contribute to excessive amounts of fear. Land use diversity provides the necessary conditions to support wellness, sustainable social and physical environments, multiple community interests and positive social interactions.

Connectivity

Communities so not exist in a vacuum. Connectivity addresses the ability of communities to create relationships with external support networks, ultimately strengthening the options available to solve local problems and influence municipal planning and development-related decisions. It can also include physical infrastructure such as access to community spaces, walking and bike pathways, transit and green spaces.

Community Culture

Communities of well-being, have a positive sense of identity and pride. There is a sense of place, a shared history, as well as commemorative of significant neighborhood events or people. Placemaking through street art, festivals, and the arts are ways that community culture is developed and celebrated. Community culture helps to provide the context to apply the First Generation CPTED principles.

Here’s a concise summary of each header:

Social Cohesion:

• Promotes participation, sense of responsibility, and conflict resolution in community life.
• Support physical space activities that foster interpersonal connections.

Threshold Capacity:

• Balances land-use, diversity, scale, and density for sustainable community development.
• Avoids excess or scarcity of resources to maintain stability and wellness.

Connectivity:

• Encourages relationship-building with decision-makers to solve local problems and influence planning.
• Integrates physical infrastructure like pathways, transit, green spaces, and community access.

Community Culture:

• Strengthens identity, pride, and sense of place through shared history and events.
• Celebrates culture via festivals, local business, street art, and other community-driven placemaking efforts.