Why does perceive safety endure in crime hotspots? Case of Delhi

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 183-198
Author(s):  
Hiroki Nakamura ◽  
Shunsuke Managi
Keyword(s):  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Ripple Effect ◽  
Neighborhood Structure ◽  
Hotspot Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Local Neighborhood ◽  
Perception Of Safety ◽  
Perceptions Of Safety ◽  
High Crime

Purpose Using a case study from Delhi, India, this study aims to investigate why perceived safety endures despite crimes in the neighborhood. Local residents in Delhi feel considerably less fearful of crime in their neighborhoods, and a majority reported feeling safe in their neighborhoods, especially during the daytime. Design/methodology/approach This paper hypothesized that similar to the crime itself, perceptions of safety or the fear of crime, also tend to be concentrated in hotspots. Following a hotspot analysis based on the respondents’ perceptions of safety, the data gathered were applied to the perceived neighborhood structure. Using two perception-of-safety models, this paper could analyze the ripple effect of individual perception on the neighborhood by adding the calculated values of the perceived safety hotspot through hotspot analysis. Findings The results indicated that income, trust in others, attachment to the local neighborhood and police access can increase residents’ perceptions of safety. Additionally, the neighborhoods’ perception of safety was found to positively impact the individual’s perception of safety. Research limitations/implications This study was limited in terms of generalizing the findings. Further studies could potentially include not only other cities in India but also, cities in developing countries in Africa and Latin America, where residents tend not to fear crime despite high crime rates. Practical implications Residents’ perceived safety does not necessarily reflect local crimes and security. Local policies to improve residents’ perceptions of safety have to often be separated from crime reduction because a reduction in some crimes would not necessarily improve residents’ perception of safety. Contrarily, if the crime rate is high, as in the case of Delhi, people may have a moderate fear of crime across the neighborhood. Originality/value Notably, this study found that, along with trust in others and attachment to the local neighborhood, individuals’ perception of safety is positively affected by neighborhoods’ perception of safety, which is assessed by the alternate analytic model.

scholarly journals Micro Scale Environmental Characteristics and Fear of Crime

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 129-136
Author(s):  
Eylem Akman Cinar ◽  
Ebru Cubukcu
Keyword(s):  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Publishing House ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Perception Of Safety ◽  
International Publishing ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
High Crime ◽  
Open Access Article ◽  
Physical Incivilities

This study investigated the relation between crime, fear, and micro level physical environmental features: physical incivilities, places that afford concealment (or refuge), limited prospect, and blocked escape. Low and high crime streets in Istanbul, Turkey was determined. Then 68 streets were selected via cluster random sampling and evaluated by two investigators at the site and by 127 people via photographs for perceived safety, upkeep (as an indicator of physical incivilities) the extent to which they afford wide vista (prospect) and easy escape and concealment opportunities, the density and height of trees, shrubs, and walls. Results supported the theory and the findings of previous empirical studies. Keywords: Crime, Perception of safety, Fear, Prospect-refuge theory, Concealment, Incivilities eISSN 2514-751X © 2018. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

Women’s Perceptions of Safety After Domestic Violence: Exploring Experiences of a Safety Contact Program

Affilia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-273
Author(s):  
Tania Westwood ◽  
Sarah Wendt ◽  
Kate Seymour
Keyword(s):  
Family Violence ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Perception Of Safety ◽  
Women’S Perceptions ◽  
Perceptions Of Safety ◽  
Integrated Program

This article explores women’s experiences of the women’s safety services associated with a South Australian integrated program for male perpetrators of domestic and family violence. As small scale and exploratory, the study aimed to understand impact of such services on women’s perceptions of safety. Interviews were conducted by telephone, using a semi-structured format, with 14 women whose partners or ex-partners had been referred to a perpetrator intervention program. Informed by a feminist standpoint perspective, thematic analysis was used to explore each woman’s experience and perception of safety. The findings of the study suggest that integrated domestic and family violence programs can improve women’s feelings of safety through the application of practical safety planning, timely intervention, emotional support, and trauma-focused practice. Importantly, while the behaviors and actions of perpetrators were clearly relevant to women’s perceived safety, it was apparent that focusing on women’s strengths and capacity for recovery can significantly impact on their continued sense of safety and well-being. This article also reiterates the importance of women’s perspectives in evaluating the effectiveness of perpetrator interventions.

Perceptions of safety among visitors to China: feeling safe in an unfamiliar environment

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongguang Zou ◽  
Rob I. Mawby
Keyword(s):  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Perceptions Of Safety

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address four questions: Firstly, how do tourists perceive safety from crime, specifically from robbery or violence, alongside other safety concerns? Secondly, are those who are concerned about crime also concerned about other threats to their well-being? Thirdly, how are their perceptions of safety affected by their perceptions of the local community? Finally, how are their perceptions affected by their personal and touristic characteristics? Design/methodology/approach Findings Firstly, tourists did not generally see crime, specifically robbery or violence, as a problem; secondly, there was only a weak relationship between concern about crime and concern about other threats to their well-being; thirdly, in contrast, their perceptions of safety were strongly affected by their perceptions of the local community; and finally, their perceptions were affected by their personal and touristic characteristics, but not necessarily in the ways suggested by earlier research. Research limitations/implications The research sample was small and the questionnaire short. Only English-speaking visitors were included. Practical implications The tourism sector needs to appreciate role of local people in engendering feelings of safety. Social implications The attitude of the local community and their relationship with tourists is fundamental to helping visitors feel safe. Originality/value This is the first criminological paper to compare fear of crime with the other safety issues confronting tourists and to relate these concerns to relationships with host community.

Assessing the effect of neighbourhood structure on residents’ perceptions of safety in gated communities: a case study of Iran

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massoomeh Hedayati-Marzbali ◽  
Mohammad Javad Maghsoodi Tilaki ◽  
Aldrin Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perception Of Safety ◽  
Perceptions Of Safety ◽  
Theoretical Evidence ◽  
Neighbourhood Structure

Purpose The contribution of neighbourhood structure to residents’ perceptions towards built environment is becoming recognised. Although considerable theoretical evidence exists to support the idea that natural surveillance is related to perceptions of safety, the empirical literature on examining the effect of neighbourhood structure and residents’ attitude towards their neighbourhood on perceptions of safety is limited, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationships between natural surveillance, perceived disorder, social cohesion and perception of safety in a gated community. Design/methodology/approach A total of 250 households from Babolsar, Iran, participated in this study. The structural equation modelling technique was employed to examine the research model. Findings The results indicate that natural surveillance is negatively related to disorder and is positively related to social cohesion and perception of safety. The model also shows no significant relationship between social cohesion and perception of safety in the study area. Residents perceived relatively high levels of social cohesion, but their perceptions of safety were moderate. Originality/value Findings emphasise the importance of neighbourhood structure and active roles of local communities in enhancing neighbourly relations and perceptions of safety.

Neighborhood by neighborhood: community policing in a rust belt city

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Cooley ◽  
Michelle Bemiller ◽  
Eric Jefferis ◽  
Rose Penix
Keyword(s):  
Control Group ◽  
Rust Belt ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Citizen Satisfaction ◽  
Police Services ◽  
High Crime ◽  
Crime Deterrence ◽  
Satisfaction With Police

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine citizen satisfaction with police services and perceived safety using survey research in two high crime neighborhoods. Problem-oriented crime deterrence strategies were used in one neighborhood, the other served as a control group. Design/methodology/approach Mixed-methods approach was used to measure the effectiveness of problem-oriented approaches in persistent high-crime areas. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted by sampling addresses in both neighborhoods and analyzing results. Findings No between-neighborhood differences were reported regarding the satisfaction with police services or improvement in perceived safety. Originality/value These findings suggest that this deterrence strategy is a promising approach to reducing crime while not damaging community perceptions. However, departments must vary place-based strategies, and prevention is difficult given historical contexts, the absence of credible community partners and limited resources in a declining city.

Fear dynamics in public places: a case study of urban shopping centers

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adewumi Israel Badiora ◽  
Bashir O. Odufuwa
Keyword(s):  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Environmental Design ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Shopping Center ◽  
Shopping Centers ◽  
Personal Safety ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Way Finding

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationships among some important factors and perceived personal safety in public places, using Nigerian urban shopping centers as case studies. Following the evidence from previous studies, the present study hypothesizes that individual characteristics influence perceived personal safety in shopping centers, and users’ perceived safety is affected by the shopping centers’ environmental attributes. Design/methodology/approach Two shopping centers were selected as cases for the study. Systematic sampling technique was used to select participants. Respondents were asked to answer closed-ended questions pertaining to environmental-design satisfaction, socio-economic and demographic characteristics and shopping center use. In total, 784 users participated in the survey. However, only 440 users properly completed the interview: 219 from Aleshinloye and 221 from Gbagi. Environmental design, socio-economic and demographic characteristics and shopping center use are independent variables, whereas perceived safety is a dependent variable. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, factor analysis and Man–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Findings Results show that fear of crime is the most important factor, explaining 28.16 per cent of the total variance in perceived safety. Nevertheless, findings show that demographic factors have a significant impact on perceived safety as well. There is also a strong association between perceived safety and the use of shopping centers, as Aleshinloye, which is perceived safer, has been more frequently used than Gbagi. Furthermore, environmental design appears as a significant factor for perceived safety in shopping centers, as users of Aleshinloye’s facilities have a better perceived safety from crime, better way-finding ability and more environmental-design satisfaction than users of Gbagi. Practical implications The study recommends the provisions of design or security precautions that prevent the fear of crime and improve way-finding capacity and environmental-design satisfaction in urban shopping facilities. Specifically, it is important to have environmental security precautions such as closed circuit televisions, good and functional lighting and private security staff, especially for women and the elderly, in urban commercial centers as these precautions could enhance their sense of personal safety. Originality/value Previous studies on shopping centers’ security have mainly concentrated on the relationship between fear of crime, perceived safety and associated factors. No studies to date have explored how way-finding ability affects perceived safety of users of shopping centers. This study contributes to the existing literature, revealing way-finding anxiety to be another important dimension of perceived safety in urban shopping centers.

scholarly journals Assessing the Impact of Street-View Greenery on Fear of Neighborhood Crime in Guangzhou, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 311
Author(s):  
Fengrui Jing ◽  
Lin Liu ◽  
Suhong Zhou ◽  
Jiangyu Song ◽  
Linsen Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Factors ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Street View ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Physical Incivilities

Previous literature has examined the relationship between the amount of green space and perceived safety in urban areas, but little is known about the effect of street-view neighborhood greenery on perceived neighborhood safety. Using a deep learning approach, we derived greenery from a massive set of street view images in central Guangzhou. We further tested the relationships and mechanisms between street-view greenery and fear of crime in the neighborhood. Results demonstrated that a higher level of neighborhood street-view greenery was associated with a lower fear of crime, and its relationship was mediated by perceived physical incivilities. While increasing street greenery of the micro-environment may reduce fear of crime, this paper also suggests that social factors should be considered when designing ameliorative programs.

Inside an African family business estate: the founder’s legacy and the successor’s dilemma

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zubaida Muhumed ◽  
Virginia Bodolica ◽  
Martin Spraggon
Keyword(s):  
Family Business ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Ripple Effect ◽  
Strategic Choices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Family

Subject area Family business. Study level/applicability Specialized undergraduate courses, Elective MBA courses. Case overview This case study uncovers the remarkable story of the relentless growth and sporadic weakening of Nurul Ain (NA) Limited, a family business conglomerate with major operations in the Eastern region of Africa. The case provides an opportunity to follow the different stages of development of this family-owned organization through a sequence of strategic events and family dynamics that led to its recurrent success, decline and rejuvenation. Despite the numerous successes of NA Limited since its establishment in the early 1990s, the ambiguous relationship between family, ownership and management systems has caused a ripple effect of strategic, structural and governance challenges that threaten the sustainability of the family business. Nowadays, the founder faces the pressing challenge of ensuring his legacy remains intact and is passed over to his chosen successor, who, in turn, is confronted with the dilemma of joining the family business or pursing an independent career outside NA Limited. Shedding light on the complexity of today’s family-run organizations, the case allows examining the effectiveness of strategic decision-making in an emerging market context by applying a variety of family business principles, theories and frameworks. Expected learning outcomes Discuss the sources of competitive advantage and the typical challenges that family firms face in the context of emerging markets. Perform a comprehensive corporate diagnosis and examine the specificities of strategic management process in family businesses. Assess the succession management practices in family-run organizations and design a profile of successful successor. Discuss the effectiveness of various corporate governance mechanisms in the context of family-owned enterprises. Evaluate the strategic choices of the top management team and offer recommendations for securing the family business longevity. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.

scholarly journals Pulling us apart? The association between fear of crime and social cohesion in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Roberts ◽  
Steven L. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Social Fabric ◽  
Perceptions Of Safety ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Adverse Influence

Fear of crime, like crime itself, is thought to be a factor that constrains efforts by government and non-state actors at promoting socially cohesive communities and a caring society. As concern  over South Africa's social fabric have mounted, increasing policy attention has been directed at perceptions of safety and nation-building. In this study, we use nationally representative survey data to examine recent theoretical models on the link between fear of crime and social cohesion within communities. The results do not offer strong support for the hypothesis that higher fear of crime is associated with lower levels of social trust, neighbouthood ties and civic cohesion, although fear does have a moderate, adverse influence on attitudes towards law enforcement.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document