While a review of crime data paints a complex picture, there are challenges to respond to with rising concern about public safety in our cities. Coordinated urban design interventions can help make us feel safer. These will become critically important as our cities become denser and there is more demand for public space.

The paper finds that fears about potential crime can affect where people choose to live, and whether and how they use public places. Some groups, especially women, trans and non-binary people, children and older people, suffer disproportionately and will often modify and limit their use of urban streets, squares, parks, playgrounds and public buildings because of safety concerns.

The paper sets out how recent thinking on Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) can contribute to safer cities. It discusses the conditions necessary for this to succeed, so that urban public space is open to all who want and need to use it.