Identification of fear of crime in parks and greenways by the residents in new towns

概要

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Recently it is necessary to evaluate residential environments from an aspect of crime safety. Parks and greenways in new towns have been regarded as hot spots of fear of crime because of their physical characteristics. However, as yet, features of fear of crime, such as where, how much and to whom it occurs have not been identified completely. To make safer residential environments, it is necessary to understand fear of crime in detail. This study aims to identify how much and what characteristics of people feel fear of crime in parks and greenways and what environmental characteristics of parks and greenways cause fear of crime. Through the questionnaire survey conducted to 302 residents in new towns, the followings were identified. a) Degree of fear of crime depends on types of crime. In four types of crime used in this study, 'child abduction' and 'female molestation' ranked higher in terms of fear of crime. b) There were individual factors that affect fear of crime (e. g. sex, presence of children in household etc.). c) Fear of crime in parks and greenways are influenced not only by one factor but numerous factors (e. g. territoriality, surveillance, existing hiding spaces etc.). This study can contribute to making a safer residential environment.