Security risks are not always caused by complex threats — often, they arise because it’s simply too easy for someone to cause harm, gain access, or go unnoticed. This is where the concept of target hardening becomes critical.
Target hardening is a key strategy in crime prevention. It involves reinforcing or modifying physical environments to make them harder to penetrate, damage, or misuse. When done effectively, target hardening reduces both the opportunity and likelihood of crime occurring — without relying solely on human response or security patrols.
In this article, we explain what target hardening crime prevention means, why it works, and the practical measures organisations can take to apply it. Whether you manage a council asset, commercial precinct, campus, or community facility, understanding how to harden your site can lead to smarter, safer outcomes.
What Is Target Hardening in Crime Prevention?
Target hardening is a crime prevention approach focused on increasing the effort required for an offender to commit an offence. It’s based on one of the core principles of situational crime prevention — if a space is difficult to access, damage, or misuse, it becomes less attractive to potential offenders.
Target hardening does not mean turning a site into a fortress. It means applying practical, visible, and often subtle design changes that:
- Delay or deter offenders
- Increase the risk of being caught
- Improve user control over access and visibility
- Reinforce a sense of ownership and surveillance
In the context of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), target hardening complements strategies like natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, and activity support.
Target Hardening Strategies You Can Apply
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to target hardening. The best solutions depend on the site, its users, surrounding environment, and the types of crime or anti-social behaviour being addressed.
That said, here are several proven strategies that can be applied in most settings:
Strengthen Access Control
Limiting who can enter, when, and how is a core element of target hardening. Strategies include:
- Installing electronic access systems with fob or card entry
- Securing gates and boundary fences with proper height and materials
- Locking utility rooms, roof spaces, and service corridors
- Using anti-climb paint or architectural features to deter access
For public or semi-public spaces, the goal isn’t to restrict all access — it’s to create controlled flow and discourage unwanted entry points.
Improve Physical Barriers
Physical barriers are not only about fences. They include any structure that prevents or delays unauthorised movement or concealment, such as:
- Bollards placed to prevent vehicle-based attacks (aligned with ISO 22343-1)
- Landscaping that restricts hidden access (e.g., thorny bushes near fences)
- Reinforced doors, shutters, or locks for high-value areas
- Transparent glazing for increased visibility into enclosed spaces
These barriers should always be balanced with pedestrian movement and accessibility.
Upgrade Lighting and Visibility
Low-light areas are more likely to attract crime and loitering. Target hardening should always include a review of lighting, especially after hours. Effective steps include:
- Upgrading lighting to meet AS/NZS 1158 standards for public areas
- Ensuring lights are well-distributed with minimal shadows
- Using sensor lighting for low-traffic zones
- Trimming vegetation that blocks natural surveillance lines
Improved lighting also supports the effectiveness of CCTV and passive surveillance.
Reinforce Entrances and Perimeters
Entrances are often the weakest point of any facility. Strengthening them may include:
- Installing commercial-grade locks or deadbolts
- Reinforcing doors with security film or metal plating
- Ensuring loading docks, garages, and rear doors are monitored and secured
- Using intercom systems, visitor management platforms, or mantraps for critical zones
In retail, educational, or government settings, these small upgrades can significantly delay unauthorised access and provide greater response time.
Leverage CCTV and Signage
CCTV alone doesn’t stop incidents — but as part of a target hardening approach, it plays a valuable role. Key considerations include:
- Ensuring coverage of access points, blind spots, and high-risk zones
- Using AI-enhanced analytics to detect motion or loitering
- Displaying signage indicating the area is under surveillance
- Integrating CCTV with lighting and alarm systems for layered defence
The goal is to increase the risk of detection while reducing opportunity.
Maintenance and Perception of Control
Criminals are more likely to offend in areas that appear neglected. This is known as the broken windows theory. To counter it:
- Repair vandalism, broken fencing, or signage promptly
- Remove graffiti quickly and regularly
- Keep grass and hedges trimmed to reduce hiding spots
- Ensure bins and amenities are in good condition and emptied regularly
Clean, well-maintained spaces signal ownership — a key deterrent for offenders.
Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM)
For sites that may host events, crowds, or high-profile functions, target hardening may involve bollard protection or other HVM measures. These include:
- Strategically placed fixed or removable bollards
- Landscaping features designed to slow or deflect vehicles
- Compliance with ISO 22343-1 performance ratings and spacing
- Ensuring pedestrian access meets AS 1428.1 (minimum 1000mm clear space)
HVM is not just for major stadiums — local government assets, retail precincts, and public spaces increasingly need to assess this risk.
The Benefits of Target Hardening in Crime Prevention
Target hardening strategies work best when implemented thoughtfully and in conjunction with broader safety planning. Benefits include:
- Reduced theft, vandalism, and unauthorised access
- Safer environments for staff, tenants, and the public
- Increased confidence from stakeholders and community users
- Stronger legal defensibility and duty of care
- Support for grant applications and capital planning with documented risk treatments
At its core, target hardening is about making it harder to offend and easier to protect.
Why Work with a Security Consultant?
While many target hardening techniques seem simple, implementing them effectively requires expert insight. That’s where Smartsec Security Solutions comes in.
As independent security consultants, we help organisations in Perth and across WA:
- Conduct physical security risk assessments aligned with ISO 31000
- Identify vulnerable areas and recommend practical improvements
- Integrate CPTED, lighting, and access strategies into site planning
- Advise on compliance with Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1158, AS 2201, ISO 22343)
- Provide vendor-neutral advice — we don’t sell or install products
We’ve worked with councils, property managers, developers, and facility operators to strengthen their sites using proven, cost-effective techniques that align with operational needs.
Take the Next Step
If you’re considering ways to improve safety, reduce incidents, or future-proof your site, target hardening is a smart place to start. But knowing what to implement — and how to do it properly — can be the challenge.
Smartsec Security Solutions can help you understand your risks, prioritise action, and create a safer, more resilient environment. We work independently, professionally, and with your long-term outcomes in mind.
Contact us today to arrange a consultation or learn more about how we can help you apply target hardening for crime prevention in your environment.
