"Design Out Crime" revisited

Today's LA Times reports that the LAPD is recommending a special unit to address the design of new buildings "to help prevent crime, including, in some cases, the use of extensive lighting and surveillance cameras."

This is interesting because, in July of 1995, then-Councilwoman Laura Chick presented the same idea and had it approved (and funded for $25,000 to develop the materials) by the City Council. They developed and adopted program guidelines, but they never made it a requirement. The program has had information on the LAPD's website already and a printed booklet, but that's as far as it went.

Part of the approved motion of 1995 was to "direct the Department of Building and Safety, with the assistance of the Police Department, to initiate proceedings to incorporate the provisions of the California Model Building Security Ordinance as shown on the Ccl file, into the City's Municipal Code," but that never came to fruition. Fast forward to 11 years later...

In February of this year, Councilman Tony Cardenas submitted a motion that called for a report back from Building & Safety, LAPD, etc. on the ability to make these design elements a requirement. Hence, the Police Commission has responded with the request for a specialized unit. LAPD has expressed concern that the council won't go for it because it will take officers off the street - my question: shouldn't planners be the ones working with designers and enforcing these codes, not LAPD sworn officers? This is why we have building inspectors and plan checkers. No impact to LAPD.

So, I guess another question would be: why the renewed interest all of the sudden? Or did someone drop the ball with the program over the last 10 years and Asst. Chief Gascon wants to "come up" with the idea again?

It'll be interesting to see how this one plays out in City Council...