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4 November 2008
The Home Office is supporting the development of new and innovative designs to 'crime-proof' hot gadgets.
The programme will develop new and innovative design solutions to help prevent robberies of popular new gadgets, and to ensure that public safety is considered in the design of new public spaces and housing.
Over the next three years, the UK’s top designers will bring industry, the public sector, designers and crime prevention experts together with victims of crime.
Backed by £1.6m in funding, the new design-led ideas will be prototyped and exhibited, showcasing the UK’s world-class innovation.
Solving many problems at once
The programme, led by the Design Council (new window), will work on developing solutions to a wide range of crime-related problems, including:
- Schools – finding and applying specific design solutions to reduce problems such as bullying, fighting and petty theft in schools. This is being led by Sir John Sorrell, Chair of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and the Sorrell Foundation.
- ‘Hot’ products – developing innovations in technology, services and product design to make personal electronics more ‘crime-proof’. This is being led by Joe McGeehan, Director of the Centre for Communications Research at Bristol University.
- Housing - embedding design-led crime reducing approaches in the planning and construction of houses. Led by Ken Pease, a forensic psychologist and visiting professor at University College London.
- Alcohol-related crime – finding design-led ways to reduce the harm caused by alcohol-related criminal behaviour, especially assaults in pubs and clubs. This is being led by Jeremy Myerson, Professor of Design Studies at the Royal College of Art.
- Business crime – helping businesses use design to minimise crimes such as shoplifting. This will be led by Lorraine Gamman, Professor of Design Studies at Central St Martins.
Using innovation to prevent crime
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said, 'I want to encourage architects, designers and industry to think about how innovative design solutions can help to reduce and even prevent crimes from occurring in the first place.
'We have worked successfully with the mobile phone industry to make phones less attractive to criminals. I want to see design and technology play a greater role in working to help make spaces, places and gadgets safer.
Design Council Chief Executive David Kester said, 'Anticipating and preventing crime is a constant challenge; perhaps even more acute in a changing economic climate.
'That’s why we need to bring the best of our creative, technological and entrepreneurial talents together to find new solutions and stay ahead of the game. The Design Council is delighted to be part of driving forward this exciting agenda in partnership with the Home Office.'
