Physical Security Professional Certification Practice Exam

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) does NOT focus on which concept?

1. Making suspicious people stand out

2. Defining property boundaries

3. Natural access control

4. Security guards

The correct answer is: Security guards

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) emphasizes the design of physical spaces to reduce crime and enhance community safety. The principles of CPTED focus on creating environments that are organized and structured in such a way that they deter criminal behavior. The correct choice pertains to the role of security personnel, which is not a primary focus of CPTED. While security guards play an important role in physical security, their presence is more a reactive measure rather than a proactive design principle that CPTED advocates. CPTED leverages architectural and environmental strategies, such as natural surveillance and access control, to make crime less likely to occur without relying on human intervention. For instance, making suspicious people stand out is a component of CPTED because environments are designed to promote visibility and encourage natural surveillance. Similarly, defining property boundaries helps to clarify ownership and responsibility, while natural access control involves designing landscapes and walkways to guide individuals toward desired entrances and away from potential targets. These strategies aim to create environments that naturally discourage criminal activity, contrasting with the reliance on security personnel.