Characteristics of the built environment and fear of crime: A research note on interventions in unsafe locations

Abstract

The “crime prevention through environmental design” approach suggests that the public's fear of crime might be reduced through redesigning the built environment. Two studies are reported examining the relationship between fear and the environment. The first study, an inventory of unsafe places, provides an answer to the question that characteristics mainly determine the perceived lack of safety of a location. Results suggest that unsafe places are particularly those that are quiet and deserted and are poorly lighted. In the second study, an experiment, the impact of improved street lighting on fear, subjective victimization risks, and the perceived likelihood of bystander intervention is evaluated. Results suggest that increases in the level of street lighting decrease fear and the other parameters. Some policy implications are discussed.