Urban planning plays an important role in crime prevention
The causes of crime are diverse, including inequality, but there is also a relationship between insecurity and deficient urban design, planning and management.
For example, criminal activities tend to be more acute in places where ...
there is not enough lighting,
in vacant lots,
or abandoned buildings.
Also in streets with difficult access , as well as in areas with little surveillance or with reduced visibility where it is easy to hide.
Improving the design and management of the environment are preventive actions that can help to reduce crime, for example:
Better connected neighborhoods act against crime
Criminal groups operate more easily in areas of difficult access. Having well-designed streets with good infrastructure, facilitates surveillance and also quick police action.
Public transport can reduce inequality
Areas without public transport tend to be isolated and can produce a spiral of negative effects such as unemployment, inequality and crime.
More and better public transport makes it easier for people to approach more and better opportunities.
A compact city has more vigilance
Combining residential, work and commercial spaces within a neighborhood generates more activity during the day and night, which allows those who are in the area, to exercise a passive observation of what happens around.
Public space generates an order and safety effect
Public space in good condition creates a sense of social identity. If used for activities that benefit the development of the community, such as art and sport, it discourages crime.
The parable
of the broken window
Imagine a building with a broken window. If the window is not repaired, there will be those who break a few more. Finally, maybe they even break into the building; and, if it is abandoned, it is possible that they occupy it and even fire it!
Now think of a street where you throw some trash that no one picks up ... what would happen?
The urban spaces in bad conditions send a clear signal: There is nobody here to take care of this.
On the contrary, taking care of them sends a strong message of social improvement and is a crime deterrence strategy.
Urban planning, combined with other social and security actions...
...can reduce crime in cities and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants.
