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TERRITORIAL FUNCTIONING AND VICTIMISATION IN COUNCIL ESTATES IN SHEFFIELD

TERRITORIAL FUNCTIONING AND VICTIMISATION IN COUNCIL ESTATES IN SHEFFIELD. By: Aldrin Abdullah. Definition & concept. “ Territorial functioning ” refers to how people manage the space they own or occupy Elements of Territorial Functioning :. attitudes. behaviour. markers.

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TERRITORIAL FUNCTIONING AND VICTIMISATION IN COUNCIL ESTATES IN SHEFFIELD

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  1. TERRITORIAL FUNCTIONING AND VICTIMISATION IN COUNCIL ESTATES IN SHEFFIELD By: Aldrin Abdullah

  2. Definition & concept • “Territorial functioning” refers to how people manage the space they own or occupy • Elements of Territorial Functioning: attitudes behaviour markers

  3. Importance of territorial functioning • Location – spaces that surround the home (streets, front & back yards) • Reason – these spaces influence the quality of life in the home

  4. Link between territorial functioning and crime • Notion – offenders perceive maintenance of outdoor residential spaces by the occupants as likely to be defended • Support: Craik & Appleyard (1980) Taylor et al., (1984)

  5. Victimisation perspective • The “victimisation perspective” focuses on the characteristics and lifestyle of the victims and to see how that affect their risk of becoming a victim.

  6. Objectives of the study • 1) Establish the demographic variables that are related to victimisation of household crimes • 2) Examine the relationship between territorial functioning and victimisation of household crimes

  7. Methodology • Main site selection criteria: • Council Estates in Sheffield - Similar demographic characteristics (Census SAS) • Varying crime rates (Police Offence and Offender Data)

  8. Views of Estate High (SE) • Graffiti & vandalism are a common sight in the area

  9. Methodology • Procedure: Conducted in 2 stages Stage 1 (Survey of 217 respondents) Stage 2 (Structured interviews – 12 respondents)

  10. Methodology Stage 1 (Survey of 217 respondents) • Part 1 (demographic information, territorial attitudes, fear and crime problems, victimisation experience) • Part 2 (observation of residents’ front garden – evaluate territorial markers)

  11. Methodology Measures • Victimisation: Household & personal crimes (Based on 1996 BCS) • Territorial functioning: 11 Attitude statements Observation of marking behaviour

  12. Examples of markers Flower pot Number plate

  13. Examples of physical barrier Hedge Fence

  14. Examples of gardening effort High effort No effort

  15. Methodology • Stage 2 (Structured interviews – 12 respondents) • Purpose – Understand issues from the first stage • Emphasis on description and discovery and not on generalisation

  16. Results – Crime in the estates Victimisation Survey Data

  17. Results – Overall victimisation

  18. Results – Victimisation by estate

  19. Results - Demographic characteristics by household victimisation Significant relationships (p<.05) (Spearman’s rho & Mann-Whitney) Age Length of residence

  20. Results - Demographic characteristics by household victimisation Non Significant relationships (p>.05) (Spearman’s rho & Mann-Whitney) Gender Ethnic origin Marital status Household income Social class Type of residence Occupation Type of ownership

  21. Results – Victimisation and territorial functioning • An increase in household victimisation is associated with a decrease in levels of territorial functioning at the individual and neighbourhood level. • The analysis cannot infer the causal relationship between the two variables

  22. Two possible explanations First explanation Increase in level of threat results in the reduction of territorial claims in accordance with the RETREAT approach (Taylor & Brower, 1985). High victimisationLow territorial functioning

  23. Alternative explanation Respondents were highly victimised because they expressed low levels of territorial functioning in the first place. High victimisationLow territorial functioning Burglars are hypothesised to prefer houses with less markers as targets.

  24. Results - Interviews • Purpose – examine which of the two explanations apply. • Subjects – 3 highly victimised respondents (7 or more incidents within the 1 year period). • Respondents A, B & C

  25. Results - Interview Summary of findings • Both respondents A & B displayed more territorial features before the incident. • Displays were in the form of more personalised items, barriers, flower pots. • Gradual decline in territorial functioning as a result of repeated victimisation.

  26. In contrast, • Respondent C had never attempted to display any territorial feature. • Why was Respondent C not bothered? • Did not believe that territorial display had any function in protecting the property. • Felt that these efforts require a lot of time and money – wasteful effort

  27. Discussion • Age and length of residence are related to household victimisation. • This reflects the individual guardianship by older and long term occupier.

  28. Discussion • Low territorial functioning is related to higher victimisation experience. • However, the relationship can work in both ways. High victimisation Low territorial functioning

  29. Conclusion • The victimisation perspective is important in studying crime. • Crime is not merely an activity of the offender. • The characteristics of the victims also influence crime.

  30. Conclusion • Focus on “multiple victimisation” because a high proportion of crimes are against the same people. • Territorial functioning - an environmental approach to crime prevention

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