NCJ Number
120016
Date Published
1988
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This study was carried out in the Midlands (Great Britain), and serves to dispel some of the popular myths that shopping centers have high levels of crime and violence.
Abstract
The complex studied is composed of two shopping centers, owned and managed by different companies, each adopting a different style of security manning. A four-week recording period was carried out by security staff generating information on over 1,060 incidents. These were analyzed to reveal trends across and between the two centers. It was found that incidents of nuisance, not crime, were the predominant problem and these incidents stemmed from a conflict of interest between shoppers, retailers, and the young people who were using the centers as meeting places. Ways of resolving these conflicts include replacing barriers around the cafes to deter leaners, circulating a monthly Anti-Theft Group newsletter, and initiating a research project aimed at identifying the social needs of youths using the city center. 7 tables, 4 references, appendix.