background

• defensible space theory


  'a residential environment whose physical characteristics, function to allow inhabitants themselves to become key agents in ensuring their security' (newman 1976). good designs can help the resident feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the area. four factors that need to be addressed

  • zone of territorial influence
  • opportunities for surveillance
  • image
  • milieu
• zone of territorial influence

  there should be markers to show that the area is private rather than public. e.g. private road signs, fences, flower beds
• opportunities for surveillance


  the physical layout or features of the building or area should mean that intruders are easily spotted. e.g. cameras
• image


  individuality should be emphasised as it suggests privacy and is linked to the zone of territoriality.
• milieu


  adjusting the surroundings of the building or setting to reduce the desire or opportunity to commit crime or vandalism.
• macdonald and gifford (1999)

  studied 50 canadian males who had convictions for burglary and related offences. participants were asked to rate 50 pictures of homes and buildingss for how vulnerable they were to theft - these buildings had been pre-assessed for DST cues. they found that the level of visible surveillance made a property significantly less vulnerable to being robbed. however these factors often increased the risk of crime. this shows that DST is a mixed view.
• broken windows theory


  wilson and kelling suggests that disorderly neighbourhoods lead to serious crimes. this occurs because disorderly behaviour tends to trigger fear in residents. they see crime is increasing so they fear crime more. doing this means that they don't challenge minor crimes and this then leads to a lack of social cohesion in the community and then more crime can be committed.
• Zimbardo 1969


  he abandoned two cars, one in new York city and one in California. both cars were left without number plates and parked with their bonnets left up, in California the car was left untouched for almost a week, someone even put the bonnet down when it was raining. whereas in new York, the car was stripped for parts within ten minutes. Zimbardo smashed one of the windows in California and the car was then quickly destroyed

  • ' the idea is that once disorder begins, it doesn't matter what the neighbourhood is, things can begin to get out of control'
• zero tolerance policing


  is a policing strategy used to prevent the development of antisocial norms. it involves relentless order maintenance and aggressive law enforcement against even minor crimes such as littering, graffiti and vandalism and not simply prioritising serious crimes.