What is crime prevention and what is it for? The name itself derives from two Latin words: praeventio – to prevent and crimen – crime. If we combine these words, we see that crime prevention is the prevention of crime. This is, of course, a very simple definition. If we want to expand it a little, we can say that:
Crime prevention is all actions aimed at reducing the quantity and quality of crime by reducing opportunities for crime and by influencing potential criminals, or crime prevention is all undertakings by the state and citizens aimed at eliminating crime.
Preventive measures aimed at improving the safety of the faithful should make use of conventional means of protection. Such activity should be based on:
Deterrence measures that help discourage and attacks
Examples include visual signs, guard posts, real or dummy CCTV systems, presence of police vehicles, sufficient lighting and others.
Detection measures allow detection of occurring threat
Examples include risk awareness among staff, human/ dog patrols, alarm systems, CCTV system, metal detectors, explosive detectors, sufficient lighting and others.
Denial/ Delay measures meant for denying or delaying access to certain areas
Examples include fences, barriers, bollards, reinforced doors, padlocks, access control systems and others.
Response measures enable or enhance response after a threat is detected/ has occurred.
Examples include panic buttons, alert systems for staff, worshippers (e.g., mass SMS), evacuation vehicles, fire alarms and extinguishing systems, evacuation plans etc.
Protection measures includes ballistic glass windows, fire resistant doors, security personnel, protection of air vents and aircon external units and others.
Prevention strategies developed in the framework of Community Policing and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Enviromental Design) can also be helpful in increasing security among religious congregations.
Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)- What is it?
- multidisciplinary approach which can help deter criminal behavior by influencing the environment;
- crime prevention mechanism;
- applied during the construction of a site (ideally) or through adjustments to existing facility/ area;
- security measures are integrated to the environment of the facility and should be aesthetically pleasing. More details on security by design avaiable at: EC NEWSROOM article “Security by design for the Protection of Public Spaces”

Community Policing. What is it?
Community Policing- LEAs Community engagement for building trust and encouraging the community to actively participate in the protection of public spaces e.g. by reporting suspicious behavior
Cooperation and trust- Exchange of information between Religious stakeholders and LEAs

Stone A. (2017). https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/community-policing-can-mean-dialog-instead-of-rioting.html