Environmental criminology and planning: A dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities
At a time of increasing global urbanisation, research consistently indicates that crime and the fear of crime are key concerns for urban populations in both developed and developing countries and communal safety is considered to be one of the key features of a high quality environment (Dempsey, 2008...
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| Format: | Conference Paper |
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Publishers: Collage of Planning and Design, National Cheng Kung University
2009
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43159 |
| _version_ | 1848756613427494912 |
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| author | Cozens, Paul |
| author2 | National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) |
| author_facet | National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Cozens, Paul |
| author_sort | Cozens, Paul |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | At a time of increasing global urbanisation, research consistently indicates that crime and the fear of crime are key concerns for urban populations in both developed and developing countries and communal safety is considered to be one of the key features of a high quality environment (Dempsey, 2008). Government planning policy in the UK, USA and Australia now advocates high density,mixed-use residential developments in walkable, permeable neighbourhoods, close to public transport, employment and amenities. It is argued that this approach, commonly known as New Urbanism, reduces urban sprawl, contributes to the development of more sustainable cities and also reduces crime by promoting street level activity and at the same time, 'eyes on the street' (Jacobs, 1961). However, Dempsey (2008) has recently challenged the assumption that various features of a quality built environment are actually socially beneficial.Evidence from environmental criminology challenges three of these assertions, indicating that highly permeable street configurations, mixed-use developments and high densities are commonly associated with increased levels of crime by virtue of the increased numbers of both potential offenders and potential targets made available (Brantingham and Brantingham, 1998). This evidence is not commonly utilised by New Urbanists or planners generally, and indicates that there are contradictions between some of the features assumed to contribute to a quality built environment. This paper presents the criminological evidence and discusses the key theories within environmental criminology which can enhance our understanding of crime issues within planning and encourage a more informed dialogue across the disciplines of planning and criminology. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:14:59Z |
| format | Conference Paper |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-43159 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:14:59Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | Publishers: Collage of Planning and Design, National Cheng Kung University |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-431592017-01-30T15:05:20Z Environmental criminology and planning: A dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities Cozens, Paul National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) designing out crime Safer cities urban crime high-density living permeability urban sustainability mixed-use development environmental criminology At a time of increasing global urbanisation, research consistently indicates that crime and the fear of crime are key concerns for urban populations in both developed and developing countries and communal safety is considered to be one of the key features of a high quality environment (Dempsey, 2008). Government planning policy in the UK, USA and Australia now advocates high density,mixed-use residential developments in walkable, permeable neighbourhoods, close to public transport, employment and amenities. It is argued that this approach, commonly known as New Urbanism, reduces urban sprawl, contributes to the development of more sustainable cities and also reduces crime by promoting street level activity and at the same time, 'eyes on the street' (Jacobs, 1961). However, Dempsey (2008) has recently challenged the assumption that various features of a quality built environment are actually socially beneficial.Evidence from environmental criminology challenges three of these assertions, indicating that highly permeable street configurations, mixed-use developments and high densities are commonly associated with increased levels of crime by virtue of the increased numbers of both potential offenders and potential targets made available (Brantingham and Brantingham, 1998). This evidence is not commonly utilised by New Urbanists or planners generally, and indicates that there are contradictions between some of the features assumed to contribute to a quality built environment. This paper presents the criminological evidence and discusses the key theories within environmental criminology which can enhance our understanding of crime issues within planning and encourage a more informed dialogue across the disciplines of planning and criminology. 2009 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43159 Publishers: Collage of Planning and Design, National Cheng Kung University fulltext |
| spellingShingle | crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) designing out crime Safer cities urban crime high-density living permeability urban sustainability mixed-use development environmental criminology Cozens, Paul Environmental criminology and planning: A dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities |
| title | Environmental criminology and planning: A dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities |
| title_full | Environmental criminology and planning: A dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities |
| title_fullStr | Environmental criminology and planning: A dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental criminology and planning: A dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities |
| title_short | Environmental criminology and planning: A dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities |
| title_sort | environmental criminology and planning: a dialogue for a new perspective on safer cities |
| topic | crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) designing out crime Safer cities urban crime high-density living permeability urban sustainability mixed-use development environmental criminology |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43159 |