Ana Neves wrote:

Hello,

I am trying to analyse de success of public places without CPTED. People's inniciatives associated with the territory, their territory, might compensate for the lack of CPTED in a consolidated area, with the strong social bonds. Do you agree? Could the 4 principles of CPTED be based on the social control people developed before CPTED? Why are similar places (in terms of the build enviroment) be so antagonic in terms of social security?

Thank you and kind regards, Ana 

CPTED is only one component of crime prevention and you have rightly identified 'strong social bonds' as a strong mitigating factor.

The presence in an area of capable guardians who 'own' an area will prevent outsiders from abusing the facilities to a greater extent than CPTED can achieve alone. The problem comes when a criminal element becomes the owner of an area and 'disenfranchises' the law-abiding. The presence of strong social bonds ensures there is community support to oust the criminalisation.

If you have not already read it, I would suggest looking at Jane Jacobs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_and_Life_of_Great_American_Cities