NCJ Number
60791
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
WEAKNESSES IN URBAN DEVELOPMENTS THAT HINDER CRIME PREVENTION ARE IDENTIFIED. IMPROVEMENTS ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
AS EXPERTS ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THE POLICE ARE PARTICULARLY QUALIFIED TO POINT OUT PROBLEMS IN LARGE-SCALE URBAN DEVELOPMENTS AND IN INDIVIDUAL ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES. FOR EXAMPLE, PEDESTRIAN AREAS, WHICH ARE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC, OFFER PLEASANT SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES BUT DEPRIVE THE PEDESTRIANS OF NEEDED PROTECTION AT NIGHT. SIMILARLY, THE EXTENSIVE USE OF GLASS AS A BUILDING MATERIAL--WHILE ATTRACTIVE TO THE EYE--ENCOURAGES BURGLARY. AS EXPERIENCE WITH THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED 'OLYMPIC VILLAGE' OF MUNICH SHOWS, THESE URBAN CHARACTERISTICS MAY PROMOTE A HIGH CRIME RATE: REDUCED PEDESTRIAN FLOW, AN AREA OFFERING NUMEROUS ESCAPES AND HIDING PLACES, FEW NEIGHBORLY CONTACTS, AND A HIGH TURN-OVER RATE IN TENANTS. IN PROJECTING A BUILDING COMPLEX, URBAN PLANNERS SHOULD CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: LOCATION OF THE BUILDING (CENTRAL OR ISOLATED), FUNCTION (PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS, ATOMIC ENERGY PRODUCTION), OWNER (GOVERNMENT), INTENDED SOCIAL MAKE-UP OF INHABITANTS OR EMPLOYEES, AND ACCESSIBILITY TO POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS. FREQUENTLY, SMALL ALTERATIONS PRODUCE CONSIDERABLE PREVENTIVE EFFECTS. FOR INSTANCE, STAIRWELLS AND ELEVATOR DOORS SHOULD BE VISIBLE FROM THE APARTMENT DOORS. EMERGENCY EXITS SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH EMERGENCY LOCKS SO THAT THEY CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. PARKING LOTS SHOULD BE WELL-LIGHTED AND FREE OF SHELTERING BUSHES. URBAN PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS, FINANCERS, BUILDERS, AND THE POLICE MUST COLLABORATE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFER CITIES. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)