Safe Cities and Communities - Theme Cities: Solutions for Urban Problems - page 452

12﻽6﻽2﻽2 Crime and Surveillance

Mixed-use areas should be encouraged, because single use areas such as commer-
cial zones are 'dead' at night, while the addition of residences overlooking streets
increases the possibility of surveillance. Although the value of the 'eyes on the
street' idea has been popularized by Jane Jacobs ( 1961 ), such surveillance only
provides practical results if people are prepared to assist victims of crime, to phone
the police, or agree to act as witnesses. There have been many cases where people
have witnessed crime but done nothing about it, meaning that the 'eyes on the street'
are effectively blind. Surveillance in areas can also be increased if people in passing
buses or taxis are also encouraged to report crimes or suspicious behaviours. The
addition of more request bus stops, especially at night, dropping passengers closer
to their residences, is also useful, so passengers have less area to traverse before
reaching their buildings, thereby reducing their exposure to potential muggers in
high crime areas. The addition of CCTV cameras may also be useful.

12﻽6﻽2﻽3 Crime and Anonymity

Anonymity between people reduces the probability of neighbours helping those in
distress or subject to crimes. The creation of neighbourhood, or even local block
organizations, however informal, increases the degree of social interaction and per-
haps trust between people. This can lead to mutual help, or at least the reporting
of crimes. Similarly, local organizations should be encouraged to develop a create
sense of ownership over their public spaces, which often leads to neighbours moni-
toring such areas for anti-social behaviour.

12﻽6﻽2﻽4 Crime and Businesses or Service Activity Generators

Such facilities will create more pedestrian movements and surveillance in an area,
especially if they open for longer than normal business hours. The encouragement
of the so-called 'activity jewels', such as street vendors and entertainers on city
pavements, and food and other kiosks in parks, also adds to the vitality of loca-
tions. All have the benefit of attracting more people to an area, thereby providing
increased surveillance and comfort for people through the presence of crowds.

12﻽6﻽2﻽5 Crime and Design Legibility of Routes and Stops

Anxiety and fear are reduced when there are many legible signposts and directions
on roads and underground parking garages, timetables at bus stops, or maps near
high volume exit-entry points to transit systems. Reducing the number of exit points
in high rise complexes was one of Newman's ( 1972 ) recommendations for improv-
ing safety in high rise complexes, since many exits allows criminals to escape.