A CPTED audit tool to assess crime and safety in town centres

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, implementation and validity of a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) audit tool designed to assess the crime and safety needs of a regional town in Queensland, Australia. Design/methodology/approach A 102-item CPTED audit tool was created to determine safety and crime prevention opportunities of a regional town centre. The accuracy of the tool was assessed by comparing audit findings to other measurements of safety and crime in the town centre. Statistical analyses were also undertaken to assess the tool’s validity and reliability. Findings Findings demonstrate the tool’s effectiveness in identifying crime and safety issues in public spaces, as well as its validity and daytime reliability. Further refinements and training are recommended for night-time audit use. Practical implications This research provides an assessment tool and methodology for understanding crime and safety to reduce crime and disorder in a wide range of public areas. Originality/value Since the 1980s, a variety of CPTED site audit tools have been created to assess crime and safety in public areas. Despite their popularity, few audit tools have been rigorously tested and published, especially in town centres. This study empirically tests a novel CPTED audit tool across multiple CPTED dimensions simultaneously.