- 1. Convenience – The easier it is to do without having to take special measures to guard against detection, the more likely loitering will occur and remain in place.
- 2. Comfort – If loiterers are not challenged or there are no others around to call the activity into question, the problem will continue with little or no resistance.
- 3. Concealment – If those who loiter cannot be readily observed or, if observed, no action is ever taken, the problem cannot be addressed and will persist.
- 4. Canopy/Cover – In any situation where physical protection from weather elements is present, loitering is more prone to occur and persist.
Loitering risk tends to be highest in less travelled public or quasi-public spaces where fewer available witnesses exist to monitor activity – even if such spaces are physically close to higher traffic areas. This is the circumstantial reality with this site, to a degree. Fewer "opportunistic points of observation capability" increases risk for loitering and the negative consequences associated with it. While it may be impossible to prevent loitering from occurring outright, its impact can be minimized, with less drastic consequences, when more of the 4 risk factors can be effectively addressed and mitigated. To be successful, a constant awareness and action plan must be employed to eradicate loitering consistently.
Primary Drivers of Safety
Establishing and maintaining a suitably high level of public safety and security for such a high profile commercial business such as this, inclusive of all its users, should be the paramount reason for any decisions made hereafter that impact such. To optimize user comfort and enjoyment, and therefore optimize the facility's social and economic value to the community, this must be the goal. In this regard, the following drivers of safety should guide decisions that need to be considered:
- All employees feel safe to do their jobs and serve customers of the facility
- Customers, who represent a critical success component in this facility's ongoing operations, must also feel safe while attending the business and traveling to and from it
- The community's perception of this important economic asset relies heavily on its sustained reputation as a place that is comfortable, enjoyable, and SAFE
CPTED Profile of the Site
To gain a proper understanding of the property's safety and security "signature", the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) are examined here to assess how key physical, place-based variables and factors can influence any potential occurrences of crime and disorder.