Environment of estates and crime prevention through urban environment formation and modification

Kvetoslava Matlovicová,Peter Mocák,Jana Kolesárová

doi:10.5937/geopan1603168m

Abstract

Due to the significant impact of criminality on the quality of life in a particular territory, criminality is attracting more and more attention from local authorities which are trying to reduce it. In this respect, the concept of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) which is quite often used outside of Slovakia and is based on prevention of criminality through the appropriate design of urban environments, seems to be useful. The study offers the characteristics of CPTED principles and also suggests possibilities for its application within innercity criminality on model territories of the city of Presov (Slovakia) as an usable way of reducing crime in other mainly East-central European cities.

Highlights

In the last decade, social development has been increasingly influenced by economic and cultural globalization as well as European integration, increasing mobility, de-industrialization and the growing importance of the service sector as well as creative and cultural industries (Olsson, Berglund, 2009)
Later studies created a sufficient theoretical basis for shaping an urban concept of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), which points at the potential for reduction of certain forms of criminality through the elements of environment
The efficiency and effectiveness of various strategies and CPTED measures can be achieved by careful planning emanating from a rigorous analysis of crime in the area of interest

Summary

Introduction

Social development has been increasingly influenced by economic and cultural globalization as well as European integration, increasing mobility, de-industrialization and the growing importance of the service sector as well as creative and cultural industries (Olsson, Berglund, 2009). Later studies created a sufficient theoretical basis for shaping an urban concept of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), which points at the potential for reduction of certain forms of criminality through the elements of environment. In order to respect the above outlined principles, finding optimal urban environment elements arrangement options requires the adoption of (Crow, 2000): a) mechanical and technical measures, which make it harder for potential offenders to realize their intentions These include, for instance, entrance control systems, alarms, and other barriers; b) organizational measures, which are based mainly on public awareness, education and improving relationships between residents; c) natural measures based on optimization of spatial arrangement of urban elements which may increase the sense of insecurity in potential offenders and cause a fear of detection or capture. The most common measures are as follows (Pauls, et al 2002; Prince William County, 2011):

Natural Surveillance

Findings

Conclusion