Security and urbanspace: implications of the morphology of urban public space in residential neighbourhoods on opportunistic crimes

Abstract

"Urban space" in an urban situation is extremely important .As urban space is the bond that keeps the elements of urbanscape together. The urban space is a 'live' space that becomes thebreathing space to urban dwellers. Due to the rapid growth of population the resulting urban sprawl and urbanisation has reduced man's personalspace to an alarming extent. A large 'personal space' induced a sense of security in man, which can be greatly reduced, with the reduction of its area. The problem of contemporary security, which stems from the excessive increase in urban crime, has its roots in sociological changes that followed urbanisation. In early communities, which were mostly based on the extended family systems,all its members knew one -another thus preventing any anti communal activity that could be rise form within. As urbanisation attracted people from rural areas into densely packed city centres; the early social bonds were fractured. Cities become places where a large numbers of strangers lived inconsiderate and indifferent to each other. This lack of community sprit and the anonymity thatresulted not only in generating an insecure feeling among inhabitants but provided ample opportunities for antisocial activities.