Design against crime: crime proofing everyday objects

In 2005, Volume 18 in Crime Prevention Studies introduced the field of designing products and systems against crime, moving beyond the early interest in vehicle security and into a far wider range – especially consumer electronics and mobile phones. Most of the chapters in that collection, however, centred on broad reviews and policy issues, reflecting the relatively limited state of evolution of the field.

Six years on, developments have occurred on two fronts. There is a greater understanding of the process of assessing products’ risk and security, and evaluating impact; and increasing practical experience of designing products against crime in a way that is informed by research – the beginnings of the fusion of crime science and design. There do, however, remain some significant constraints on implementation though we are becoming more familiar with their nature and what to do about them. The present volume illustrates the significant progress made in the last few years, and raises issues for the future.

Paul Ekblom is the editor of this volume and wrote two chapters: 'Introduction' and 'The Security Function Framework)'. There is a further chapter by Ekblom, Design Against Crime colleagues and UCL partners: Reducing Bag theft in Bars. Design Against Crime and their partners at UCL also wrote the following chapter: Designing Against Bicycle Theft.

Publisher's description:

'From bicycle stands configured to prevent theft to pharmaceutical packaging that thwarts counterfeiters, the authors fuse crime science and design practice to point the way forward for a new generation of crime-proofed objects used in everyday contexts.'

Contents:

Foreword — Ken Pease.

Introduction — P. Ekblom.

The Security Function Framework — P. Ekblom.

Embedding Crime Prevention Within Design — A. B. Wootton and C.L. Davey.

Making a Brave Transition from Research to Reality — R. Armitage.

A Market Approach to Crime Prevention — G. Newman.

Designing Against Bicycle Theft — A. Thorpe, S.D. Johnson, and A. Sidebottom.

Designing a Counter-Terrorism Trash Bin — R. Lulham, O.Camacho Duarte, K. Dorst, and L. Kaldor.

Packaging Against Counterfeiting — L. Segato.

Reducing Handbag Theft — P. Ekblom, K. Bowers, L. Gamman, A. Sidebottom, C. Thomas, A. Thorpe, and M. Willcocks.

Supermarket Carts to Reduce Handbag Theft — A. Sidebottom, P. Guillaume, and T. Archer.

Slowing Thefts of Fast-Moving Goods — M. Gill and R. Clarke.

Conclusion — P. Ekblom.

• Organisation