Think crime! Using evidence, theory and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) for planning safer cities

Paul Cozens Praxis Education, Quinns Rocks, Australia, 2014, AU$49.95,

ISBN: 978-1876394035

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Before focusing on the book, obviously the main task of a book review, it is worth reflecting for a moment on the contribution of the author - Dr Paul Cozens. Those familiar with crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) literature will have surely stumbled across some of Dr Cozens' previous work. With an extensive list of previous publications on diverse aspects of CPTED theory, policy and practice, the name Cozens has become synonymous with CPTED. A key feature of this work has been connecting CPTED with concepts as diverse as transport, the night-time economy, environmental sustainability, physical health, gerontology, and other critical contemporary agendas and policy movements. Cozens has also contributed important empirical analysis to complement the more conceptual and theoretical work in this area. I approached this review with considerable enthusiasm given the previous substantial and important output from Cozens.

Now to the Book.

The sub-title of this book sheds considerable light on what is captured in the 218 pages of text (excluding 27 pages of references). In Think Crime! Using Evidence, Theory and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) for Planning Safer Cities , Cozens covers considerable terrain. Situational crime prevention, CPTED, crime prevention through product design, environmental criminology, fear of crime, social planning, crime...