Building a CPTED research culture in Portugal: a bibliometric and social network analysis

Abstract

Although CPTED is recognized as an important crime deterrent for some decades, there are countries where it is still in its infancy, and knowledge and dissemination are scarce. Portugal is such an example. Only in the last decade has research specifically focused on CPTED, with little convergence between the different spheres of knowledge production, such as the academia, the police or the administration. In this paper, we argue that to build a CPTED culture, these spheres need to converge. Using the Portuguese CPTED experience as a case study, we apply methodologies of social network analysis to explore the relationships between different actors and the research time-line. Through a bibliographical analysis, we further delve on the authors and theories that most influenced Portuguese CPTED. This dual approach allows introducing the little known Portuguese CPTED experience to the international community, as well as discussing how the mechanisms of knowledge production integrate towards a more cohesive implementation.

Reconfigured securityscapes in Louis Trichardt: Possibilities, limitations, and contradictions

“…The requirement for better policing presence, availability, accessibility, and velocity in addressing crime, safety, and security is a requirement and expectation that transcends nation-states throughout the world (Millie and Herrington, 2005;Millie, 2010Millie, , 2014Ratcliffe et al, 2015). The matter of the inadequate site, home and neighborhood environmental, spatial planning, and design deficiencies is a matter at the core of urban design and planning (Cozens et al, 2005;Owusu et al, 2015;Iqbal and Ceccato, 2016;Lee et al, 2016;Marzbali et al, 2016;Sohn, 2016;Thani et al, 2016;Mihinjac and Saville, 2019;Saraiva et al, 2021). The following transcript extract from a resident who owns a Security and Alarms Company provides useful insights on potential security features that one can consider in building home defense and seeking to make houses and homes safer: "Look, residents and everyone must understand that criminals are out there on the prowl and looking for the slightest opportunity to break into your home, company premises, car etc., and take valuables and property.…”

“…This training can be scaled up to include international training and certification of police officers in CPTED, which currently is not the case in the study area. The South African Council of Planners (SAPLAN) and South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) could be enlisted by local governments through the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to assist with pioneering work for the development and piloting of customized crime, safety, and secure house and spatial planning designs, using international benchmarks and practice as a departure point (Stummvoll, 2012;Chiodi, 2016;Kent and Wheeler, 2016;Saraiva et al, 2021). The capacity building and training workshops, covering all geographic scales, sectors of the economy, all inclusive (gender, age, disability) will be essential in making in-grounds to the emergence of positive post-colonial urban resilient and conflict conquering societies.…”