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