Public Places and Crime in Delhi: A Study for Crime Prevention through Place Design

By : R. N. Dubey

Page No: 11-34

Abstract 
The incidence of crimes at public places has been cause of concern for local administration and law enforcement authorities. To deal with crimes, the emphasis has been on the law and order. But apart from that there are close relationship between socio-economic and physical environment of a place and crimes. The planning and design of a place play an important role in choosing a place to commit crime by offenders. This work is mainly based on primary data collected through structured questionnaire by interviewing 350 individuals. It includes 10 transit stations located in the localities of different socio-economic and environmental status in Delhi. It examines the relationship between micro-environment and crimes at transit places like railway station/bus stands etc. in Delhi. As per various studies, the transit places have been found most vulnerable for crimes. It has also been found that there is close relationship between the micro-environment of a place and the crime. People believe that most of the crime occurs within 500 meters from the station. The incidence of crimes is high in first half of the night. Crowding, isolated places and vacant plots are potential hotspots for crimes at transit places. Based on detailed inventory of land uses and security arrangement, an existing crime prone place has been mapped and also a perspective plan and designed map have been prepared. Imageries and the Global Positioning System (GPS) have been used for mapping. This study may be useful for the urban planners, criminologist and the local administrators who are engaged in dealing with crimes at public places. 

Authors :
R. N. Dubey
Associate Professor, Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2019.39.01.2