Describe the contribution of agencies in achieving social control: Environmental design - AC3.2 Flashcards
(26 cards)
How can the environment around us affect levels of crime?
Influencing potential offenders - presenting them with opportunities to commit crime
Affecting people’s ability to exercise control over their surroundings
What agencies can ‘design crime out’?
Architects
Buildings
Town Planners
Local Councils
What did Oscar Newman argue?
That some spaces are defensible while others are indefensible
What spaces lead to more crime?
Indefensible spaces, eg. anonymous walkways and stairways,
What did the study of high-rise blocks in New York find?
Found that 55% of all the crimes committed occurred in public spaces such as stairways, because no one felt they ‘owned’ them
What are defensible spaces?
Areas where there are clear boundaries (ownership), so it is obvious who has the right to be there
What factors does Newman lead to low crime rates in defensible spaces?
Territoriality
Surveillance
A safe Image
A Safe Location
What is the definition of territoriality?
Where the environment encourages a sense of ownership among residents - it is their territory and they can control it
What is the definition of surveillance?
Features of buildings such as easily-viewed entrance lobbies and street-level windows allow residents to identify and observe strangers
What is the definition of A Safe Image?
Building designs should give the impression of a sale neighbourhood where residents look after each other.
What is the definition of A Safe Location?
neighbourhoods located in the middle of a wider crime-free area are insulated from the outside world by a ‘moat’ of safety
What did C.R. Jeffrey introduce?
Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED)
What is CPTED?
the idea that we can alter the environment to reduce opportunities to commit crime
Who is Alice Coleman?
(UK based) adopted a similar approach to C.R. Jeffrey and found that the poor design of many blocks produced higher rates of crime.
What did Alice Coleman recommend to reduce crime rates in areas?
No more blocks of flats should be built in those specific high crime areas
Each existing block should have its own garden or private space - looks more cared for
Overhead walkways should be removed - offenders can’t easily get away
What is an example of CPTED?
Gated lanes
What are gated lanes?
They are lockable gates installed to prevent offenders from gaining access to alleyways - used mainly to prevent burglary and easy escapes
How much does one gate cost?
Average £728
What areas are gated lanes normally used in?
Normally in high risk crime areas
What are some strengths that mean gated lanes are effective?
Sidebottom et al. found that gates reduced burglary rates
Prevents offenders to be able to escape or to slow them down if they have - it is a physical barrier to reduce criminality
£728 per gate and the average benefit was over twice the cost - cost benefit
What are some limitations that mean gated lanes are not effective?
They only prevent criminals from outside the neighbourhood not criminals who live inside the neighbourhood - also key code might have been shared
Can restrict access for emergency services
Requires the neighbourhood to actually keep them closed and all to trust them
What theories are linked to CPTED?
Situational Crime Prevention (SCP)
Rational Choice Theory
How does situational crime prevention link to CPTED?
SCP is based off rational choice theory
they won’t commit crime if they see limited opportunities - increases risks of crime and decreases the rewards.
Target Hardening Measures - locking cars, security guards, etc
How does Rational Choice Theory link to CPTED?
Costs of getting caught are too risky - increases chances of being caught
CPTED sees offenders as acting rationally so they believe that they have a higher chance of getting caught by CPTED
