Incorporating Neighborhood Safety through Urban Planning – A Case Study

Abstract

Crime, an issue every community faces, can be controlled by applying Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to public and private realms. These techniques are relatively simple and cost effective. Data were collected by both objective and subjective evaluation. Objective evaluation was carried out by conducting street audits in three streets in Nagercoil city, Tamil Nadu, Chennai. Subjective evaluation was carried out by conducting household survey. Household questionnaire survey has to be done based on the CPTED parameters which includes natural access control, natural surveillance, Target hardening, Territoriality and Maintenance. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis for the data collected from the household questionnaire survey is done using SPSS software. The result obtained from the analysis is compared with self-audit checklist to obtain the difference between people's perceptions on CPTED features and the opinion from the audit. The 3 places selected are also compared and the least crime friendly land use is identified. Bivariate correlation and regression were performed to identify the factor that influences the occurrence of crime the most, which will aid in providing cost effective solution and recommendations.