NCJ Number
60789
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF URBAN PLANNING IN WEST GERMAN CRIME PREVENTION IS DISCUSSED FROM A TOWN PLANNER'S POINT OF VIEW.
Abstract
SO FAR, CRIME PREVENTION HAS NOT BEEN A PRIORITY OF GERMAN URBAN PLANNING. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE RELATION BETWEEN CITY ENVIRONMENT AND CRIME, URBAN PLANNERS MUST FOCUS ON MAKING THE CITIES MORE 'DEFENSIBLE' AGAINST CRIME. ALTHOUGH GERMAN CONSTRUCTION LAWS SPECIFICALLY STRESS THE SECURITY OF THE POPULATION, THIS CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN LIMITED TO FIRE AND TRAFFIC HAZARDS. IN THE INTEREST OF CRIME PREVENTION, THE FOLLOWING GOALS FOR URBAN PLANNING ARE SUGGESTED: A MIXTURE OF THE VARIOUS CITY FUNCTIONS (BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL, AND RESIDENTIAL SECTIONS), LOCATION OF SCHOOLS AND NURSERY SCHOOLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS, THE SPREADING OF POLICE STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, THE RENEWAL OF URBAN CENTERS TO SALVAGE RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THE AVOIDANCE OF SLUM FORMATION, AND A TOLERABLE DENSITY LEVEL OF THE POPULATION. FOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS, IN PARTICULAR, THE FOLLOWING GOALS SERVE THE INTEREST OF SECURITY: AVOIDANCE OF ISOLATED AREAS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, PARTITION OF LARGE HOUSING BLOCKS INTO SMALLER AREAS FOR EASY SURVEILLANCE, IMPROVED COMMUNICATION PROVISIONS, AND IMPROVED MEANS OF ORIENTATION AND IDENTIFICATION. TO REACH THESE GOALS, POLICE REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ADVISE ON URBAN PROJECTS. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND SECURITY INCLUDE AVOIDANCE OF HIGH RISES WHENEVER POSSIBLE, PREFERENCE FOR TOWNHOUSE SECTIONS; CREATION OF 'DEFENSIBLE SPACE,' AVOIDANCE OF DARK, EXPOSED AREAS ESPECIALLY NEAR GARAGES AND ENTRANCES, AND CLEAR ORIENTATIONAL MARKERS THROUGHOUT ENTIRE AREAS. IN SUMMARY, ALL AGENCIES INVOLVED MUST SEE TO IT THAT HUMAN PROTECTION, JUST AS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BECOMES A PRIORITY OF URBAN PLANNING. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)