Situations differ in terms of the wider environment, usage, existing facilities, crime problems, resources and competing demands. Moreover, planners seldom start with a clean sheet. In many cases they have the task of ameliorating the effects of the designer of previous decades or even centuries. The scope for achieving personal security through design will differ greatly between new developments and where improvements are being made to existing structures. Consultation Early consultation with those who will actually use, or would like to use the facility can help to maximise features for personal security.
Local knowledge can avoid many of the basic mistakes which can later prove costly to rectify.
Front line staff also have an important contribution to make in ensuring that the security features are practical and will realistically fulfil the desired objectives. Consultation should have the scope to influence decisions and not be a cosmetic exercise where those consulted have little or no power. It requires access to information and a commitment on behalf of those engaged in the process to be open and honest about their proposals and the decision-making process. Care must be taken to ensure that the process is not used by an unrepresentative minority to delay decisions which would bring improvements for the wider majority. The timescale for consultation needs to be clear and well publicised.