Temporary Appropriation and Public Space: Assessing the CPTED Principle of Activity Support

Abstract

The potential for reducing crime throughout modifications to the built environment has been extensively argued and implemented over several decades within Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) knowledge. In this context, empirical evidence has shown that the presence of CPTED principles—such as Activity Support, Natural Surveillance and Territoriality—is related to a significant shift in the recurrence of crime. Nonetheless, the extent of how these principles work is still under research. This chapter assesses the role of activities related to urban design as contributor of the temporary appropriation of the public space for crime prevention purposes. The study presents a critical assessment of a case study: the Third Millennium Park in Bogota DC, Capital District of Colombia. The CPTED principle of Activity Support was assessed across the place using a ratio mapping methods to understand the relationships between public space and crime. The results unveiled a significant low level of activities and a tendency for using signage mainly as sets of instructions for mandatory purposes rather than a strategy for helping the temporal appropriation of the public space. The research chapter concludes that the urban design intervention played a positive role in the reduction of crime within the areas in the case study. Though, its concentration variously increased throughout the locations in the surrounding areas. Hence, implications of territoriality, crime displacement and the access to comprehensive crime data should also be considered in further research.