Fear and Safety in Public Spaces Kristen Day, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Planning, Policy, and Design University of California, Irvine
Jan 03, 2016
Fear and Safety in Public Spaces
Kristen Day, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorDepartment of Planning, Policy, and DesignUniversity of California, Irvine
Crime & safety in the US
• Consider actual crime and fear of crime
• Can have fear problem without crime problem
Photo: http://www.cpted-watch.com/
Crime down in US since 1994
• Violent crime down 58% - From 714 to 466 victimizations/
100,000 people
• Property crime down 52% - From 4660 to 3,517 crimes/
100,000 people
Source: 2004 FBI Uniform Crime report.
Minnesota crime trends
• Crime down
since 1994- Up slightly in 2004
• MN rates are less than US average- 270 violent crimes/100,000 people
- 3,039 property crimes/100,000 people
Source: 2004 FBI Uniform Crime report. Photo: minnesota.publicradio.org
Neighborhood watch patrol
Fear of crime
• 38% of people fear walking alone at night in own neighborhood in US
- 19% of men- 47% of women
• % stays same, though crime drops
• Crime is localized; fear is widespread
Source: Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics Online, Table 2.37, 2005 Photo: www.Rikoksentorjuntanneuvosta.
Who is affected?
• Violent crime is highest among low income, minority (black, Hispanic), young (< age 25), men, urban residents
- Men = victims by strangersWomen = victims by non-strangers
Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin, September 2006, NCJ 214644.
Fear is highest among elderly women, black & Hispanic people
• Who fears walking alone in own neighborhood at night?
- 41% non-white adults, 30% white adults- 47% women, 19% men
Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics Sourcebook, 2002; Gordon, S. & Riger, M. (1989). The female fear, New York: Free Press.
Crimes in Public Places
• Crime not distributed evenly- In “hot spots”
• Hot spots = - High concentration of potential offenders - Easy access - Concentration of criminal targets- Few guardians or controllers
• Hot spots are 1st target for planning, design
Public spaces/public crime & disorder
• Parks, outdoors areas - Sexual assaults, robberies, drug dealing,graffiti,
vagrancy
• Parking lots - Theft of/from cars, robbery, sexual assault
• Transit stations - Personal, property crime at station, nearby
• Entertainment areas (bars, stadia, etc.)- Assaults, pickpockets, property crimes
• Shopping centers - Shoplifting, public disorder (disorderly conduct,
vagrancy, drugs, gang activity, etc.)
Fear in Public Places
(1) Low prospect
(2) High refuge
(3) High boundedness
Prospect
Low (–) High (+)
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Refuge
High (–) Low (+)
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Boundedness
High (–) Low (+)
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Social and Physical Incivilities
Photos: www.bewareofthedogma.com/; www.photo.net/.../homeless-in-washington-dc-13; www.illegaleconomy.com/prostitution/prostitut...
• Also, consider
places where peoplefear hassling or harassment- Of women- Of people of color- Of gays/lesbians/transgenders
• Includes specific cities, neighborhoods, public spaces, wilderness spaces
Photo: www.streetharassmentproject.org
Impacts of crime, fear on health
• Violence, homicide
• Stress
• Reduced physical activity- Groups with highest
fear = highest obesity
rates, low physical
activity
• Isolation, poor quality of life
Photo: news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/3044625.stm.
Impacts on communities
• Impacts hard to disentangle
• Can include fear, distrust, neglect, limited involvement, low sense of community
Photo: vzaliva.livejournal.com/tag/photo.
• Limits community development, investment
Design for safety
• History
- Jane Jacobs: “Eyes on the street”
- Oscar Newman: Defensible space
- James Q. Wilson & George Kelling: Broken windows theory
- C. Ray Jeffrey: Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)
• CPTED = criminology focus- Keep criminals out
• Safescape =
urban planning focus- Public safety - Promote sense of
community
Photos: www.planning.org; www.amazon.com
Different approaches
Safescape principles
• Address fear and crime
• Principles(1) Seeing and being seen
(2) Socializing and interaction
(3) Stewardship and ownership
(4) Information and orientation
Zelinka, A. & Brennan, D. (2001). Safescape. Creating safer, more livable communities through planning and design. Chicago: American Planning Association.
• People act responsibly when can be seen by others
• We feel safer when can clearly see surroundings
(1) Seeing and being seen
Photos: www.efn.org/~hkrieger/mallaise.htm; crimeprevention.rutgers.edu/.../cart_block.htm; www1.br.cc.va.us/murray/research/cpted/role_o…; www.just-tenerife.com/resorts/garachico.htm; www.lileks.com/mpls/modern/commercial/54th.html
Allow clear views
• Consider sight lines - Windows, landscaping, street walls
• Few hiding spaces
• Security cameras are not a substitute for natural surveillance
Appropriate lighting
• Exterior of buildings well lit - Especially rear areas
• Special treatment for pedestrian areas
Photos: www.shuionland.com/sol/tabid/249/Default.aspx; mediaroom.visitpa.com/ imageGallery.aspx?file_…; www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/Content/Business.aspx?id=58
Activity generators
• Accessory uses =
eyes on the street- Ground floor retail - Outdoor dining- Public spaces- Support for pedestrians
Photos: www.schaperpaint.com/clients.html ; www.nwt.org/gcsnapshots8.htm; www.alamedainfo.com/linoaks_motel_alameda.htm; www.twincitiesdiningguide.com/
(2) Socializing and interaction
• Environments often isolate us
• Design, planning can encourage interaction, socializing, looking out for others
• Reduces fear
Mixed uses
• Different uses in walking distance- Lively on weekends, evenings
• Activity generators: - Post office, police station, court
houses, some types of retail
Photos: you-are-here.com/building/printers.html; www.smith.mn/journal/journal2.html
Vibrant public realm
• Support interaction with strangers
- Public art, music, programming, support for kids, dogs
• Encourage spending time- Farmers markets,
outdoor dining, plazas, vendors, outdoor seating
Photos: www.greatamericandowntown.org/downtown_direct…; www.invisible5.org/index.php?page=press; www.mystclair.com/ private/oldsite/gal_1.html
Activated alleys and lively sidewalks
• Alleys, rear of buildings = lifeless
- Make these spaces lively, well-maintained
• Sidewalk are movement predictors
- Don’t isolate from
cars, link to activities
Photos:chesnes.com/seattle.html; www.flickr.com/photos/laor/page8/; www.sanbrunobart.com/.../Large/00060906.shtml
(3) Stewardship and ownership
• Maintain, protect environment
• Others will respect it
Hierarchy of spaces
• Clear differentiation: public/semi-public/semi-private/private
- Tells people where they belong
- Heightens stewardship
Photos: www.barnabasproject.org.uk/page.cfm?pageid=bp…; www.aallnet.org/events/local01/shopeat.htm; www.ia-bednbreakfast-inns.com/auntieanns.htm
High quality environment
• Few amenities shows lack of ownership, pride
- Deferred maintenance, obsolete infrastructure, few services
• High quality environment promotes feeling safe
Photos: www.deborahbrownfineart.com/public_art_instal…; www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,109861,00.asp; www.storm3000.com/2005day8.html
Discourage graffiti
• Minimize blank walls- Public art- Strategic landscaping
• Graffiti abatement and removal program
Photos: ktwu.washburn.edu/.../sj2003/sj1608.html; home.powertech.no/vifo/sksk/skibotn/
(4) Information and orientation
• Need to know where you are, where you are going, what to avoid, to reduce fear
• Wayfinding information can increase comfort, feeling safe
Landmarks
• Know where you are - From far away and nearby
• Consider landmarks for drivers, walkers
Photos: http://www.ripbang.com/RBA/portfolio/dr_citiwalk.html; www.fredonia.edu/prweb/releases/ clocktower.htm; www.cadencialatina.com/.../webs/chicago.htm
Photos: www.airport-technology.com/contractors/baggag…; www.jrcdesign.com/environmental/wayfinding2.html; www.commuterpage.com/PikeRide/bus_stops.htm
Signage
• Sufficient in #
• Uncluttered in appearance
Photos: unit501.tripod.com/lbc/2006 /index.htm; www.planning.dot.gov/ .../domscan603.htm; www.lancastercampaign.org/ .../dd_wayfinding.htm
• Other orientation aides- Hierarchy of entrances - Directories- Pavement markings
• Informed pedestrians have sense of direction, self-confidence- Deters crime
Lessons for planning
• Can’t ignore deeper factors that create crime
• Crime, fear prevention goes along with economic, community development - Jobs, affordable housing, quality schools
Resources
Publications
Crowe, T. & NCPI (2000). Crime prevention through environmental design. 2nd Ed. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Colquhoun, I. (2004). Design out crime: Creating safe and sustainable communities. Burlington, MA : Architectural Press.
National Crime Prevention Council. (1997). Designing safer communities: A CPTED handbook. 1/800/NCPC-911.
Publications (continued)
Taylor, R.B. & Harrell, A. V. (1996). Physical environment and crime. Washington, D.C. : National Institute of Justice.
Wekerle, G. R. & Whitzman, C. (1995). Safe cities. Guidelines for planning, design, and management. NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Zelinka, A. & Brennan, D. (2001). Safescape. Creating safer, more livable communities through planning and design. Chicago: American Planning Association.
Organizations & Websites
The International CPTED Association (ICA). International membership organization, CPTED resource listings. http://www.cpted.net/home.html
Secured by Design. Official UK police website for security and designing out crime. http://www.securedbydesign.com/
National Crime Prevention Council. CPTED training, publications. http://www.ncpc.org/training/CPTED.php
APA Safe Growth checklist.www.planning.org