Analysing crimes in public spaces of New Delhi through news reports: The need and possibility of integrating Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Principles.

Abstract

Delhi has crime in public spaces that must be addressed using a multi-disciplinary approach. In this research study, we investigate the need and possibility of integrating Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles into the built environment for crime reduction in New Delhi. By analyzing 100 criminal activity records from New Delhi's public spaces, from 2017 to 2023, sourced from news websites, we categorized incidents based on CPTED's four principles: surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance. Remarkably, our findings reveal that an overwhelming 91% of the analyzed crimes were either facilitated or influenced by elements of the built environment. Notably, a predominant factor contributing to criminal incidents was the absence of natural surveillance measures. This study underscores the critical role of urban design in shaping crime patterns and advocates for a comprehensive integration of CPTED principles to foster safer and more secure urban spaces in New Delhi. Keywords: CPTED, built environment, public spaces, crime, surveillance