Crime prevention through spatial planning : the case of Harare, Khayelitsha

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dc.contributor.advisorWinkler, Tanjaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorFester, Ryan Nicholasen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-03-23T11:51:31Z
dc.date.available2016-03-23T11:51:31Z
dc.date.issued2015en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical referencesen_ZA
dc.description.abstractDefensible space aims to provide residents with the power to control their residential environment, so that they will defend it against any threat. While the literature on defensible space is prolific, and while its principles are still being adapted for different contexts across the world, critiques of defensible space indicate that its validity for different contexts is questionable and necessitates further exploration. This paper explores how the implementation of defensible space principles in the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) safe node area of Harare, Khayelitsha has reduced crime rates and anti-social behaviour. Furthermore, it also aims to provide planners with knowledge regarding VPUU's prescription to defensible space principles. The research was conducted primarily through the use of the case study method, and a critical discourse analysis of VPUU's urban design principles. Harare's crime statistics were analysed through the use of mixed methods, in order to gain an understanding of how crime has been affected in the area. Interviews with locals from Harare provided insight on how residents perceived safety in their area after VPUU's intervention. Observations were also made in order to understand how the intervention area functions and how people use it. Cognitive mapping was done with primary school children to ascertain their perceptions of safety in Harare. The research findings revealed that the implementation of defensible space principles in Harare has improved the quality of public space, but it has not reduced crime rates or anti-social behaviour. Moreover, the main finding revealed that crime was not solely a result of design flaws, but rather as a result of the social conditions in the neighbourhood. As a result, the main recommendation was that crime prevention strategies should not focus solely on design but should address the social conditions present. The researcher argues that the implementation of defensible space principles should be context-driven, because what works in one context will not necessarily work in another.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationFester, R. N. (2015). <i>Crime prevention through spatial planning : the case of Harare, Khayelitsha</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18204en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationFester, Ryan Nicholas. <i>"Crime prevention through spatial planning : the case of Harare, Khayelitsha."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18204en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationFester, R. 2015. Crime prevention through spatial planning : the case of Harare, Khayelitsha. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Fester, Ryan Nicholas AB - Defensible space aims to provide residents with the power to control their residential environment, so that they will defend it against any threat. While the literature on defensible space is prolific, and while its principles are still being adapted for different contexts across the world, critiques of defensible space indicate that its validity for different contexts is questionable and necessitates further exploration. This paper explores how the implementation of defensible space principles in the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) safe node area of Harare, Khayelitsha has reduced crime rates and anti-social behaviour. Furthermore, it also aims to provide planners with knowledge regarding VPUU's prescription to defensible space principles. The research was conducted primarily through the use of the case study method, and a critical discourse analysis of VPUU's urban design principles. Harare's crime statistics were analysed through the use of mixed methods, in order to gain an understanding of how crime has been affected in the area. Interviews with locals from Harare provided insight on how residents perceived safety in their area after VPUU's intervention. Observations were also made in order to understand how the intervention area functions and how people use it. Cognitive mapping was done with primary school children to ascertain their perceptions of safety in Harare. The research findings revealed that the implementation of defensible space principles in Harare has improved the quality of public space, but it has not reduced crime rates or anti-social behaviour. Moreover, the main finding revealed that crime was not solely a result of design flaws, but rather as a result of the social conditions in the neighbourhood. As a result, the main recommendation was that crime prevention strategies should not focus solely on design but should address the social conditions present. The researcher argues that the implementation of defensible space principles should be context-driven, because what works in one context will not necessarily work in another. DA - 2015 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2015 T1 - Crime prevention through spatial planning : the case of Harare, Khayelitsha TI - Crime prevention through spatial planning : the case of Harare, Khayelitsha UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18204 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/18204
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationFester RN. Crime prevention through spatial planning : the case of Harare, Khayelitsha. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, 2015 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18204en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Architecture, Planning and Geomaticsen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherCity and Regional Planningen_ZA
dc.subject.otherDefensible spaceen_ZA
dc.titleCrime prevention through spatial planning : the case of Harare, Khayelitshaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMCRPen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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