Built Environment influences anti-social behaviour

Generally, we blame people for anti-social behaviour, and rightly so.

However, it is a scientific fact that levels of anti-social behaviour in an area are influenced by the built environment in that area. Anti-social elements will naturally seek out areas which make it easy to indulge in drinking, violence etc., and we know these activities are self-perpetuating.

I've just read a very interesting book called "The Logic of Life" by an economist called Tim Harford that shows how this can be established. The book is on sale downtown in Bookwise, or I'll loan it to anyone who calls. The basic theme is that many unpleasant aspects of life (crime, racism, ghettos) are rational and explainable outcomes of circumstances, even if they are objectionable.

For example, violent behaviour is unusual on a busy street because any gang who might attack and rob an individual will be inhibited by the number of people around. On a quiet suburban street, however, it is different - a gang of two or more can easily rob or attack a lone passerby. Lively neighbourhoods with shops, cafes, restaurants and the odd pub mixed in with housing have less levels of anti-social behaviour than areas with housing alone. Pub closing time probably excepted!!!

Even the height of buildings influences behaviour. Car thieves and burglars are much less inhibited by tall buildings that by low ones. High buildings de-personalize an area and make it vulnerable.

This lesson has been hard learned in Limerick. On the Moyross estate, the built environment is going to be totally refurbished in order to eliminate the criminal gangs who have taken it over. Families are going to be sent elsewhere, houses are going to be taken over by CAB, other houses are going to be demolished, only people with Garda approval are going to be allowed back. See http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0121/breaking43.htm

I am not saying we are going to have a Moyross, but it would be extraordinarily stupid of the planners not to take into account the experience of other towns in Ireland. To look over the Urban Innovations plan with its little laneways and its cramped thoroughfares is like looking at Irish planning of twenty or thirty years ago.