Design Out Crime

The Home Office's Design and Technology Alliance Against Crime and the Design Council have established a project called Design Out Crime. The project aims to 'identify design-led opportunities to protect people from becoming the victims of various kinds of crime'. The report (see here) discusses research findings into current Neighbourhood and Home Watch (NHW) programmes, including it's structure, success and history. It also highlights the ways in which young and diverse communities are evolving or are different and need to be aided by the NHW scheme.

The programme worked with industry experts to demonstrate how design can help to prevent crime and is a positive and educational case study into the way in which design can play an integral role in such strategies. The 'Service design' and 'Branding' pages are particularly insightful in providing an explanation of the process and why it is necessary. 

The report concludes with a structured and cohesive branding toolkit which enables NHW groups to customise their own programme and create an online network. The 1980s NHW circular logo is left untouched apart from a colour update as many members had become particularly attached to it - though it seems to have been consigned to a smaller space on posters and other materials.