While some parts of the document are a useful aide-memoire, I will not be sad to see the back of Secured By Design (SBD) (Criminal responsibility, 12 April, page 24), and I hope that it is replaced by better awareness of how good urban design can be used to minimise the risk of crime, and improve the feeling of safety within a community. Unfortunately, in many quarters SBD is seen as "the rules that must be obeyed", which means permeable neighbourhoods are a no-no (multiple escape routes), street trees are removed (they block the CCTV) and the opportunity for visual interest in landscape is replaced by "thorny plants" everywhere.
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