NCJ Number
57047
Journal
STRATHCLYDE GUARDIAN Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Pages: 17-21
Date Published
Unknown
Length
4 pages
Annotation
CRIME CAUSES AND PREVENTION WERE THE FOCUS OF THIS SURVEY CONDUCTED IN IRVINE NEW TOWN, ENGLAND. THE SURVEY WAS PART OF A JOB CREATION AND TRAINING PLAN.
Abstract
FIVE AIMS OF THE SURVEY WERE TO REPORT ON THE AMOUNT OF CRIME IN INDIVIDUAL AREAS OF IRVINE NEW TOWN, AREAS IN THE TOWN WHERE PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO WALK ALONE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT; PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF CRIME; RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OPINIONS AND LENGTH OF RESIDENCE IN THE TIME (OVER OR UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE); AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OPINIONS AND HOUSING AREAS (NEW OR OLD, PUBLIC-RENTED OR PRIVATE). REPORTED AND UNREPORTED CRIME INVOLVED DAMAGE TO TELEPHONE BOOTHS, BUS SHELTERS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND PRIVATE PROPERTY. IN THE CATEGORY OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR, LOITERING AND DRUNK AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT WERE MOST COMMON. THERE WERE MINOR THEFTS OF CLOTHES IN LAUNDRIES, MILK BOTTLES, TOYS, DOOR MATS, TOOLS, AND DUST BINS, SERIOUS THEFTS INVOLVED HOUSEBREAKINGS, AND A FEW THEFTS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE. MANY PEOPLE WERE AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE UNACCOMPANIED AT NIGHT. CAUSES OF CRIME WERE LACK OF PARENTAL DISCIPLINE, WORKING PARENTS, UNEMPLOYMENT AND TRUANCY AMONG YOUTH, TELEVISION AND CINEMA VIOLENCE, LACK OF DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS, TOWN GROWTH, YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME, AND SHOPLIFTING. OPINIONS OF TOWN RESIDENTS INDICATED THAT PROBLEMS IN HOUSING AREAS CONCERNED THE PRESENCE OF SHOPS AND PUBLIC HOUSES, HOUSES TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, TOO MANY HOUSES, AND A LACK OF PRIDE IN HOUSING AREAS. OTHER PROBLEMS MENTIONED BY TOWN RESIDENTS WERE THE SYSTEM OF ALLOCATING HOUSES BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES, THE LACK OF LEISURE FACILITIES, UNDERAGE DRINKING AND DERELICT PROPERTY, THE LAYOUT OF NEW TOWN AREAS AND THE DESIGN OF HOUSES, THE NEED FOR MORE POLICE PATROLS, VANDALISM BY OUTSIDERS, AND LARGE GARDENS IN OLDER AREAS. IN GENERAL, CRIME WAS RESTRICTED TO VANDALISM, THEFT, AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. RESIDENT ATTITUDES INDICATED THAT POLICE OFFICERS, PUBLIC REPORTING TO THE POLICE, PUNISHMENT, AND THE CREATION OF LEISURE FACILITIES FOR YOUTH WOULD SERVE TO PREVENT CRIME. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)