Building a CPTED research culture in Portugal: a bibliometric and social network analysis

Abstract

Although CPTED is recognized as an important crime deterrent for some decades, there are countries where it is still in its infancy, and knowledge and dissemination are scarce. Portugal is such an example. Only in the last decade has research specifically focused on CPTED, with little convergence between the different spheres of knowledge production, such as the academia, the police or the administration. In this paper, we argue that to build a CPTED culture, these spheres need to converge. Using the Portuguese CPTED experience as a case study, we apply methodologies of social network analysis to explore the relationships between different actors and the research time-line. Through a bibliographical analysis, we further delve on the authors and theories that most influenced Portuguese CPTED. This dual approach allows introducing the little known Portuguese CPTED experience to the international community, as well as discussing how the mechanisms of knowledge production integrate towards a more cohesive implementation.