Anti-crime tips list for developers

Developers in Telford are set to be given new guidelines to help cut crime and anti-social behaviour across the borough. The proposed new policy is the first of its kind in Telford & Wrekin.

It spells out many simple steps to deter criminals, which can be taken by architects drawing up planning applications.

Borough council cabinet members are being asked to adopt the Design for Community Safety planning guidelines on Monday.

They aim to ensure new housing estates do not include such things as narrow alleyways and buildings with recessed entrances, spots which traditionally attract criminals.

It also says developers should choose species of trees or shrubs that help improve visibility, again making crimes less easy to commit.

Additionally, the guidelines urge developers to improve streetlighting, consider using CCTV, make street furniture less prone to vandalism and use window grilles or internal shutters on shop fronts rather, than unattractive external roller shutters which often reinforce the fear of crime in neighbourhoods.

Councillor Steve Bentley, cabinet member for the environment, said: "This guidance gives developers a checklist of dos and don'ts which will make a real difference to people in the borough by making our communities safer.

"It will help developers to design out crime by creating an environment where criminals have much less opportunity to commit crime."

Sergeant Paul Franks, of Telford police, which was consulted on the guidelines, said they should "help prevent crime before it can even take root".