Research in the field of environmental criminology indicates that greenspace can promote crime; yet how particular types of greenspace encourage or inhibit the timing and types of crime remains largely unexplored. This study addresses this concern by examining the spatial, temporal, and neighborhood dynamics of greenspace crimes.
The study is based, in part, on the theory of greenspace as a “behavior setting,” suggesting that places exhibit ''standing waves of behavior'' that are shaped by social customs and physical design. This study also draws from routine activity theory which highlights the importance of time in understanding the dynamics of crime. An additional understanding framing this study is that social and physical context surrounding greenspaces may influence greenspace crime.
This study combined five data sets to examine violent, public nuisance, property, and drug crimes within 4,265 greenspaces across Brisbane, Australia. The data sets included information about crime incidence, land use, and census data (including population density and percentage of adolescents in a population).
Greenspaces refer to a range of different public spaces – from parks and gardens to greened thoroughfares and sporting fields. These different settings influenced the type and timings of greenspace crime. This study found that violent crime generally increased around 3 p.m. and around 9 p.m. in all greenspace types, while property damage crime generally increased later in the evening. These time-related crime statistics suggest that workday and school-day lifestyle routines influenced greenspace crime. All greenspace crime was strongly linked to the presence of greenspace amenities (e.g., lighting and nearby public transport stops) and neighborhood setting (e.g., economic status, proximity to high school), suggesting that both the physical and social characteristics of a neighborhood influenced greenspace crime.
This research suggests that particular types of greenspaces are more crime prone than others. Where and when greenspace crime occurs, however, depends not only on greenspace type but also on greenspace location and greenspace social context. Understanding how different factors influence the incidence of crime can be helpful in making decisions about crime prevention initiatives in urban greenspaces. The researchers offer several policy and urban planning implications.
Research Partner