ARE PUBLIC SPACES

SAFE? ARE CITIES

INCLUSIVE,
SUSTAINABLE, SAFE, AND
RESILIENT?
SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENCE, AND INCLUSIVENESS (SDG 11)

ASSESSMENT 3
PLANNING THEORY URBAN STRATEGY & DESIGN

OCTOBER 16, 2022

ARCHI PRAJAPATI
21180710
Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Concern about crime and the feeling of safety in the open realm........................................................2
The world’s scenarios............................................................................................................................2
Safety perception and phobia of crime in the built environment..........................................................3
The perception of safety and phobia of crime through a socio-technical perspective..........................4
Conclusion and recommendations........................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................5

1
Introduction
A crucial component of sustainable urban development is safety. In a secure city, everyone has a
location to reside that isn't in danger while also having the freedom to move around, which is
necessary for forming relationships and improving one's quality of life (UN-Habitat, 2019).
Strengthening global peace was a goal of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which
was endorsed by all UN Members States in 2015. Cities have a variety of effects on the environment
and the people who live in present and in the future. A city to be sustainable it should take into
account all the potential risks for the prolonged endurance and vigour as well as the developed
environment's and its inhabitants' protection if it is to accurately symbolize  the new global outlook
that will direct the development program for the twenty-first century. (Cozens, 2008). An urban
city’s life is reflected through public space and its environment. Moreover, it defines the character of
a city. Safety is a major concern related to public spaces. According to research conducted around
the world, 60% of urban dwellers in developing nations had experienced crime victims’ status at
least once over the previous five years, with 70% of them living in Africa and Latin America. (Safety |
UN-Habitat, n.d.). Violence, lawlessness, and crime have all increased along with urbanization,
especially in emerging nations. One of the biggest issues facing urban inhabitants worldwide is the
rising insecurity they experience on a daily basis. Understanding the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on
the frequency of violence, insecurity, and crime requires taking into account the heightened conflict,
anxiety, dread, and that officials, community members, and service providers have all experienced.
(Annual report 2021, 2021). The concept of resilience is frequently utilized in relation to climate
change and ecosystems. But there are other resilience-related aspects as well. Secure locations are
still more and more necessary. The inclusion of a city is hindered by the worry about crime in public
areas.

Concern about crime and the feeling of safety in the open realm
The term "public space" refers to any open area that is accessible to the general public. To put it
another way, public places are what encourage neighborhood contact with other people.. Public
spaces include places like parks, squares, marketplaces, shopping malls, roadways, et cetera. In
order to build an inclusive public space, it is important that various kinds of individuals are at ease
and can actively interact with one another. (Iqbal, 2021). Numerous research has demonstrated the
beneficial effects of green areas and parks on people's welfare and happiness (Chiesura, 2004), but
other studies have demonstrated the potentially detrimental effects of such areas on people’s lives,
including stress and anxiety. Examples of factors that negatively impact people include high beam
lighting from sports arenas, street parking next to parks, vandalism, congestion of unsavory groups
(such as drug addicts, drinkers, etc.) in public venues, traffic jams near parks, and noise near parks
(Iqbal, 2017). Fear of being victimized or experiencing vulnerability is a complex concept that is
based on individual experiences related to numerous different circumstances, including emotional
reactions to concern or anxiety, socioeconomic status, gender, and age (Rezvani & Sadra, 2019). The
primary reason why women avoid public spaces is parkgoers' concern about crime. A community is
considered safe when it has a network of people with consistent interaction and offers support
including all populations. In order to keep people in a public area, it must feel friendly and open
(Iqbal, 2021). By encouraging social inclusion and empowering all individuals, it is possible to create
public places that are socially sustainable, cohesive, and robust.

The world’s scenarios

1. Young people in eastern Mexico City, Mexico

2
A survey conducted on 381 university students in Mexico, reports sexual victimization experiences
and perception of safety by young people in eastern Mexico City in public transportation. According
to research, women experience higher victimization in public transport than men do. The degree of
sexual harassment, utilisation of PT on a regular basis, distance travelled, commuting scenarios (on
the bus, while waiting for it to arrive, on the way to the bus or metro stop), method of
transportation, and all affect how high victimization rates are. Students admitted to feeling more
afraid at night and in the evenings than they do during the day. As a result, they take precautions to
prevent being victimized, such as traveling at night, traveling in groups, using well-lit stops and
stations, avoiding specific routes, or even carrying a weapon. The aforementioned difficulties bring
up the negative effects of unsafe environments on the life of students as well as the overall crime-
related costs to PT networks and connectivity (Ceccato & Nalla, 2020). It is vital to maintain the
transportation system's physical infrastructure to improve users' perceptions of user safety.

2. In Rio Claro, Brazil, transit safety is being evaluated with a focus on women
and LGBTI adolescents.

The survey concentrated on associated with sex offense victimization while examining adolescents'
sense of security in urban mass transportation. It was motivated by two theories. The results of the
first hypothesis are consistent with statistics on the high rate of victimization of women in South
America and various other European states, which demonstrate that women are the biggest
persecuted minority of any type of crime studied, making up at least 71.3% of all victims in cases of
sexual violence or abuse. According to the second objective, the LGBTI group had the greatest
fractional derivative of casualties (31.7%), although it was still possible to determine that female
LGBTI victims outnumbered male LGBTI victims by a factor of 5.25 (Ceccato & Nalla, 2020). As a
result, one finding of this study is that women are the most susceptible category and that LGBTI
women are among the most vulnerable.

3. Older adults’ safety perceptions in Sweden

Older individuals in Hässelgrden and Seved have both shown behavioural reactions as a result of
their perception of the risk of being victims of violence in their local communities. The apprehension
of crime -driving avoidance behaviour was described by older persons. These actions primarily
involved Seved avoiding time. Poor safety perceptions in Hässelgrden caused people to avoid each
time and location (e.g., taking detours, being compelled to take longer journeys to complete
everyday tasks, or staying inside late at night). The mental maps of danger that older persons have
were found to have distinct effects on their day-to-day mobility (Ceccato & Nalla, 2020). Fear can
restrict everyday activities and negatively affect social interactions, that could result in exclusion and
increased anxiety.

Safety perception and phobia of crime in the built environment

The aspects of the built environment that contribute to the feeling of safety include mixed
residential and commercial use, streetscapes (such as benches and trash cans), lighting, landscape
architecture, barriers, street patterns, accessibility, and design layout. The basic psychological
requirements of people are satisfied when the physical environment is properly developed, which
increases people's feelings of safety. The presence of people on the streets creates "eyes on the
streets" (Jacobs, 1961), which can influence perceptions of safety and indeed the possibility of crime
(Ceccato & Nalla, 2020). Jane Jacobs’s book ‘The life and death of the great American cities’ argues
about a safe urban environment is crucial to liveability. By examining the usage of various urban
components, such as sidewalks, neighbourhood parks, and city neighbourhoods, Jacobs advances

3
the concept of people and mixed land uses of buildings (Tavolari, 2019). Because of the long day
and increased activity due to mixed land use activities, there is a greater sense of safety and a
natural increase in natural monitoring. Large Parks generate more activities and have a lower crime
level, on the other side it can have safety issues due to the park’s expansive size. Vegetation and
overgrown trees obscure the view and provide cover, thus negatively affecting the perception of
safety (Iqbal, 2021). From the perceptive of physical design, accessibility in public spaces is crucial.
Public space should give the impression that it is available to everyone. It is both open and alluring
must be easily accessible and well-planned. For alluring, the presence of other people is recognized
as an essential component and a requirement for a well-functioning city (Iqbal, 2021). The use of
street furniture, such as seating configurations and the positioning of trash cans in public spaces, is
another crucial physical component that contributes to a sense of safety in an urban setting. The
majority of social interaction occurs in public settings that offer sitting with a natural overview,
which also elicits a sense of security. The perception of safety can be increased by cleanliness,
sufficient lighting, and trimmed trees and vegetation. Safety perception and disorder in the
environment are related. Inadequate lighting, vandalism, unkempt landscapes, rubbish (waste), and
graffiti are a few examples of the physical characteristics that contribute to the disorder. People feel
less safe when there is more disorder, which lowers their perception of safety and makes them avoid
places. Place avoidance on other hand exacerbates psychopathology (Foster et al., 2012). Street
lighting is a significant component of the physical elements that contribute to feeling secure in public
settings. However, research shows both the beneficial and negative impacts of lighting. Rezvani and
Sadra assert that public space lighting and visual accessibility contribute to a greater sense of
neighborhood safety (Rezvani & Sadra, 2019). Although physical planning does have a role in how
safe a public area can be, the physical design also influences how it is perceived to be safe.

The perception of safety and phobia of crime through a socio-

technical perspective
Modern urban areas have undergone a substantial transformation, and having access to modern
innovations such as the intertubes, smartphones, computers, et cetera has probably had an effect on
how people use public spaces and engage with one another. The most crucial factor to consider
when describing a socio-technical perspective about violence and criminality is how technological
systems and equipment are affecting safety/security and sustainability. In today’s environment,
video surveillance cameras are ubiquitous. CCTV was more successful at lowering burglaries than
street lighting (Welsh & Farrington, 2004). People feel more secure and confident, while others say
the opposite. The implementation of sophisticated surveillance in public spaces encourages the use
of monitoring systems for crime prevention and deterrence, enhance public safety and reduce
criminal activity rate in urban parks (Iqbal, 2021). The research showed that camera installations
aren’t beneficial for every location. CCTV is more effective in controlled environments (particularly
parking lots) than in open spaces and has the biggest influence on auto crime while having little
effect on violent crimes. “Apps on streets” is a supplement to Jane Jacob’s “Eyes on the streets”.
Ceccato examined the essence of the information obtained by app users who report incidents in
order to investigate the idea of surveillance and phrases associated with it. Additionally, research
shows that apps hardly reflect the population of those who really use the application or the
population living and working in these locations (Iqbal, 2021). A public area should be durable,
secure, and welcoming, and alarms should be installed CCTV and the application of location-based
apps on smartphones, using crowdsourced data to report crimes that are reported digitally,

4
appropriate street lighting sensors, and other surveillance methods can all work in both directions by
both enhancing people's sense of security and raising some legitimate concerns in the process.

Conclusion and recommendations

The phobia of crime has been acknowledged as a significant cultural problem in urban areas. The
ability to access parks or other public spaces without fear is regarded as a fundamental human right
and is vital to the quality of life in a city. This section discusses some general policy and design
considerations for maintaining safety in public areas based on previous discussion. Undoubtedly, the
spatial configuration of parks and open spaces has been very important in influencing how people
feel about their safety. By encouraging multiple uses for a location and mixed land use, you may
make it easier for people to move around at different times of the day. This can also help facilitate
active support for new guardianship by providing additional eyes on the streets. The perception of
safety varies depending on the time of day, and additional street lights might enhance one's sense of
security in public areas. The suitability of CPTED's adoption to ensure safety. However, creating safe
public spaces can be aided by community members' active involvement in the process. In this
approach, public space has the potential to empower people and foster social capital. It takes
inclusive and strategic planning, including social sustainability, to create safe and sustainable cities.
There are risks associated with adopting these technological systems to build safe cities, such as
pollution, techno litter, viruses, privacy concerns, and hacking. It is past time to consider alternative
methods of creating circular and resilient communities. Cities' resilience-building efforts have largely
benefited from public places. Because safety is a crucial sign of overall social health, the safety of
public areas influences the quality of a location and raises the overall quality of life. By consistently
collaborating with all stakeholders, including individual people who frequently use such public areas,
police and other safety specialists who deal with these issues in the city, researchers and
practitioners, we can build safe, sustainable, and resilient communities.

References
Safety | UN-Habitat. (n.d.). Unhabitat.org. https://unhabitat.org/es/node/142308

(‌ 2021). Annual report [Review of Annual report].

In https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2022/05/2021_annual_report.pdf (pp. 1–52). UN-
Habitat.

UN-Habitat (2019). Safer Cities Programme. https://fukuoka.unhabitat.org/programmes/

detail04_01_en.html

Cozens, P. (2008). Crime prevention through environmental design in Western Australia: planning for
sustainable urban futures. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 3(3),
272–292. https://doi.org/10.2495/sdp-v3-n3-272-292

Iqbal, A. (2021). Inclusive, Safe and Resilient Public Spaces: Gateway to Sustainable Cities? In
www.intechopen.com. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/76318

Rezvani, M., & Sadra, Y. (2019). Sociological Explanation of Fear of Crime in Public Spaces Case Study
Mashhad. Sociology and Criminology-Open Access, 07(01). https://doi.org/10.35248/2375-
4435.19.7.202

Chiesura, A. (2004). The Role of Urban Parks for the Sustainable City. Landscape and Urban Planning,
68(1), 129–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2003.08.003

5
Iqbal, A. (2017). Park Matters: Studies on Safety and Property Values.
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1156860/FULLTEXT02.pdf

Ceccato, V., & Nalla, M. K. (2020). Crime and Fear in Public Places: Towards Safe, Inclusive and
Sustainable Cities. In library.oapen.org. Taylor & Francis.
https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/39937

Tavolari, B. (2019). Jane Jacobs: contradictions and tensions. Revista Brasileira de Estudos Urbanos E
Regionais. https://www.academia.edu/38657095/Jane_Jacobs_contradictions_and_tensions?
from=cover_page

Foster, S., Giles-Corti, B., & Knuiman, M. (2012). Does Fear of Crime Discourage Walkers? A Social-
Ecological Exploration of Fear As a Deterrent to Walking. Environment and Behavior, 46(6), 698–717.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916512465176

Ceccato, V. (2019). Eyes and Apps on the Streets: From Surveillance to Sousveillance Using
Smartphones. Criminal Justice Review, 44(1), 25–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734016818818696

Welsh, B. C., & Farrington, D. P. (2004). Evidence-based Crime Prevention: The Effectiveness of CCTV.
Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 6(2), 21–33.
https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.cpcs.8140184