AC3.2 Contribution Of Agencies To Achieving Social Control Flashcards
Who came up with the idea of defensible and indefensible spaces?
-Architect Oscar Newman
Indefensible space
-Crime likely to occur. Confused, anyone out walkways and stairwells. Belong to no-one not cared for
-Damilola Taylor stairwell
-In high rise blocks in New York 55% of all crimes committed happened in public like stairwells, lifts, lobbies
Defensible spaces
-Low crime rates
-Clear boundaries, obvious who has a right to be there eg public (pavement) semi-public (front garden) and semi private (garden) and private (inside the home)
-Low crime areas due to territoriality, surveillance and safe image
What is CPTED?
-Crime prevention through environmental design
-Idea that crime results from opportunities presented by physical environment
-Designs of outside spaces or buildings to reduce crime
-If alter environment then reduce crime
What are the 4 CPTED principles?
-Surveillance
-Access
-Territoriality
-Maintenance
Surveillance
-Criminals don’t like to be seen
-Choose area to hide
-Resolve: entrances well-lit, clear line sight, rid of hiding spots, low thorny hedges, CCTV for blind-spots, monitors so can see face, front doors facing the street, curl-de-sac
Access
-High movement means they can leave area quickly
-They feel in control
-Use maze entrances to public lobbies so not straight line
-Curbing and landscaping to direct cars and foot traffic in controlled area.
-Shouldn’t feel like they have the upper hand
Territoriality
-Clear distinctions between public and private property
-Legit occupants will notice and challenge intruders
-Offices reception should have clear line of sight to entrances, discreetly call for help
-Security signage
-visitor badging
-distinct boundaries
-cul-de-sacs
Maintenance
-Well maintained area shows that people notice and care
-Discourages vandalism
-“Broken windows” one broken window will entice vandals to break another
-Repair vandalism and graffiti, create well maintained space
What are 2 other environmental principles?
-Safe image: building designs should give impression of safe neighbourhood where residents look after one another, if not then may be targeted by offenders
-Safe location: neighbourhoods in crime-free areas insulated from outside by buffer of safety
What did Alice Coleman find?
-Poor design of 4000 block of flats, led to higher crime rates and ASB
-3 designs encouraged it: anonymity, lack of surveillance, easy escape
What attempts in the UK have been made to ‘design crime out’?
- Lesson Green estate removal of overhead walkways obstructing surveillance - 50% reduction in crime
- Architectural liaison officers ‘build in’ crime prevention features when designing new buildings. Encourage residents to look after surrounding
- New buildings adhere to ‘secured by design’ led to 30% lower crimes rates in houses
What are gated lanes, what are they used for?
-Lockable gates installed to prevent offenders getting to alleyways like end of terrace housing
-Prevent burglaries, fly-tipping, ASB and create safety
Who erects the gates? Where are they located in the UK?
-Local authorities
-Preston, Lancashire Cardiff
Why are gated lanes successful?
-Increases effort needed to commit crime
-Residents take responsibility for shutting gates
-Increases guardianship and surveillance and territoriality
-Offenders aware not a public space
-Gating removes broken windows and makes look cared for
What are the disadvantages of gated lanes?
-Cost: $4000 a gate. Avg $728
-Don’t work if the criminal lives there
-Residents who don’t know each other may be less likely to initiate installation of gates and take responsibility
-All residents need to be on board
-Restrict emergency access
What is situational crime prevention (SCP) (CPTED and RR)
-Like SCP, CPTED involves ‘target hardening’ by changing physical environment to make it harder to commit crime
Felton’s routine activity theory
-Emphasises the role of a capable guardian in protecting potential crime targets. CPTED mutual surveilllance by neighbours or CCTV are guardian
Rational choice theory
-Making it more difficult to commit crime, people may resist
Strengths of using CPTED to achieve social control (6)
-Lisson Green estate: 50% reduction in crime after overhead walkways removed
-HO 30% lower burglary rate in secured by design properties meeting crime prevention standards
-Gated lanes can stop burglaries, fly tipping, ASB…
-Gated lanes reduce rewards of crime as can’t climb over gate w tv
-Adhere to broken windows principles
-CPTED: sense of ownership and belonging. Sense of community and improve wellbeing
What are the weaknesses of using CPTED in achieving social control (6)
-Displacement: crime just moves not targeting root cause
-Cost $500 to $4000 per gate
-Focus on protecting area from outsiders but often committed by insiders
-Not all crimes physical intrusion eg fraud, white collar and cyber
-Even defensible spaces like cul-de-sacs may not be defended if out all day
-Area’s reputation and demographic may be cause rather than design
How else can the built environment be used for social control?
-Prison design
How does the panopticon achieve social control when used in prisons?
-Guards are all-seeing in central watchtower. They can see everyone
-Prisoners aren’t aware of when they are and aren’t being watched
-Should give way to internal self-control
