Identifying with the emerging school of environmental criminology, this research focuses on the <i>place</i> of crime, aiming to explore and understand spatial variations in vulnerability. <i>Residential crime</i> (crime against the household) is studied - specifically residential burglary, burglary in other premises and simple theft. Analysis of data collected from police crime records supports the assumption that most residential crime is opportunistic - committed in areas familiar to the offender. Analysis is primarily made at inter- and intra-<i>neighbourhood</i> levels. Eight neighbourhoods of contrasting socio-economic characteristics and crime levels within, and in surrounding areas of, Swansea are studied - using a questionnaire (to interview samples of households) and a site survey (to record design and location features of dwellings). Two (related) themes structure the research. (i) <i>Place as location</i>. Hypotheses are tested which explain the vulnerability of neighbourhoods, in terms of variables which may either create or foreclose opportunities for crime (namely neighbourhood identity, social cohesion, variability, occupance levels, dwelling design and location). It is concluded that these need to be applied selectively as explanations of vulnerability - the most general explanation is proximity to offender-residence. The importance of place-specific studies is emphasised. (ii) <i>Place as a centre of meaning</i>. The second set of hypotheses concentrate on reaction to crime - in terms of relations between perceptions of crime, satisfaction with the neighbourhood, perceived risk of, and worry about, being burgled and security consciousness. All the hypothesised relationships were found to exist, to varying degrees. The implications of these results are discussed with reference to a range of crime prevention measures which have the objective of reducing or removing opportunities for crime. Some recommendations on ways in which the public can be made better informed on the real risks of crime are made.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:636352 |
| Date | January 1987 |
| Creators | Darwood, J. M. |
| Publisher | Swansea University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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