When it comes to protecting people, property, and public spaces, CPTED target hardening is one of the most practical and cost-effective ways to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. Target hardening is a core component of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) — an evidence-based approach to safety that focuses on reducing criminal opportunity through smart design.
At Smartsec Security Solutions, we deliver independent CPTED assessments across Western Australia, helping local governments, schools, strata managers, and businesses understand how physical environments contribute to crime risk — and what they can do to improve security, without turning spaces into fortresses.
This article explains what CPTED target hardening is, how it works, provides real-world examples of where it’s needed, and how we apply it as part of a holistic risk management strategy.
What Is CPTED Target Hardening?
Target hardening refers to physical design strategies that make it more difficult for a crime to be committed. This includes strengthening barriers, limiting access, and increasing the time, effort, or risk required for someone to carry out an offence.
Within CPTED, target hardening must always be balanced. The goal is to deter criminal behaviour without creating a hostile or overly restrictive environment. When done well, target hardening works alongside other CPTED principles like natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, and access control to improve safety while preserving function, aesthetics, and community use.
Key CPTED Target Hardening Strategies
There are many ways to apply target hardening depending on the space, risk profile, and type of crime being addressed. Below are common strategies, along with practical examples and the types of sites where they are often implemented.
Physical Barriers and Bollards
Installing physical structures to prevent unauthorised access, intrusion, or hostile vehicle attacks.
Examples:
- Hardened bollards to protect shopfronts or pedestrian zones from ram raids
- Fencing and gates around service areas, school boundaries, or depots
- Lockable cages around utilities (e.g. gas meters, electrical boxes)
- Vehicle-resistant planters for public plaza areas
Use cases:
- Shopping centres, public open spaces, car parks, laneways, critical infrastructure
Reinforced Entry Points
Making doors, windows, gates, and access systems more resistant to forced entry.
Examples:
- Security-rated doors and locks for plant rooms or staff-only areas
- Anti-pry or shrouded padlocks on service gates
- Anti-tamper hardware on external security panels
- Solid-core doors with limited hinge exposure in public toilets
Use cases:
- Council amenities, schools, commercial tenancies, community centres
Surveillance-Resistant Design
Target hardening that supports surveillance by removing concealment or increasing detection likelihood.
Examples:
- Repositioning bins and landscape elements to prevent hiding spots
- Installing lighting that minimises shadowed zones
- Using mesh fencing instead of solid panels to preserve visibility
- Designing CPTED-compliant sightlines across entries and exits
Use cases:
- Laneways, underpasses, parks, public toilets, car parks
Access Control Enhancements
Securing the way people and vehicles move through spaces to discourage unauthorised entry or loitering.
Examples:
- Installing automatic gates with keypad/fob entry for secure areas
- Adding height restrictors in car parks to deter misuse
- Using swipe access systems for building zones (e.g. lifts, staff areas)
- Securing stairwells or roof access points
Use cases:
- Residential strata buildings, schools, depots, transport hubs
Locking Systems and Key Management
Upgrading and standardising the locking infrastructure to prevent breaches or mismanagement.
Examples:
- Key control audits for staff-issued keys
- Master key systems with restricted duplication
- Electronic access with time-stamped logs
- Lock boxes for emergency responders
Use cases:
- Education facilities, commercial offices, aged care, community buildings
When Target Hardening Is Essential – Common Risk Triggers
While all environments benefit from CPTED thinking, there are certain risk profiles where target hardening becomes essential:
- Repeat break-ins at service yards, depots, or strata garages
- Vandalism or arson in remote toilet blocks or parks
- Loitering or anti-social behaviour in underpasses or laneways
- Hostile vehicle threats near pedestrian zones or public buildings
- Trespass and property damage in school grounds after hours
- Access breaches in buildings with poor fob/key management
These risks often surface during incident reviews, insurance claims, or facility condition audits. However, target hardening doesn’t need to wait for a crisis. A CPTED risk review can highlight these weaknesses before they lead to significant loss, injury, or reputational damage.
Why Target Hardening Must Be Balanced
It’s important to note that target hardening is not about turning environments into “fortresses.” Over-hardened spaces can lead to:
- A hostile or unwelcoming feel for users
- Reduced accessibility for people with mobility challenges
- Poor aesthetics that attract graffiti or feel unsafe
- Increased maintenance or long-term costs
This is why CPTED-trained consultants always balance physical hardening with surveillance, ownership, legitimate use, and maintenance considerations. The aim is to make criminal acts less appealing, more risky, or more difficult, not to restrict community access.
How Smartsec Security Solutions Applies CPTED Target Hardening
At Smartsec Security Solutions, we incorporate target hardening as one part of a broader, structured CPTED assessment, aligned with:
- ISO 31000:2018 – Risk management framework
- AS/NZS 1158 – Lighting for roads and public spaces
- ISO 22343-1:2023 – Hostile vehicle mitigation
- AS 1428.1 – Disability access and mobility requirements
- Local crime trends and site-specific risk profiles
Our process includes:
On-Site CPTED Review
We conduct in-person inspections to observe blind spots, concealment opportunities, access points, lighting quality, and real-world usage of the space.
Stakeholder Engagement
We meet with facilities teams, asset managers, or community stakeholders to understand incident history, usage patterns, and concerns.
Risk-Based Recommendations
We don’t just suggest bollards and cameras. Our reports include evidence-based, scalable, and budget-conscious strategies. Target hardening options are prioritised by risk level, feasibility, and cost impact.
Planning and Support
Need to prepare a funding application or project brief? We structure our reports to help you justify security enhancements in a way that boards, councils, or executive teams understand.
Real-World Use Cases – Where We’ve Helped
While we don’t name clients, Smartsec has delivered CPTED and target hardening guidance for:
- City councils seeking to reduce anti-social behaviour in laneways
- Schools upgrading perimeter security after multiple break-ins
- Strata buildings with garage intrusion and mail theft
- Regional towns wanting to improve safety in public amenities
- Major projects needing to align with ISO 22343-1 for HVM compliance
In each case, the goal has been the same: reduce risk, improve safety, and support confident decision-making without unnecessary spend.
Conclusion – The Value of CPTED Target Hardening
When applied thoughtfully, CPTED target hardening transforms vulnerable spaces into safer, more functional, and community-friendly environments. It’s not just about adding barriers — it’s about using the built environment as a tool for prevention.
If your council, school, or organisation wants to reduce risk without compromising accessibility, engaging an independent CPTED consultant is the first step. At Smartsec Security Solutions, we provide honest, standards-based advice — no sales pitches, no bundled systems — just smart, targeted strategies that work.
