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The Wollongong Study

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Putting Fear of Crime on the Map

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Evidence-Based Crime Policy ((SSEBCP))

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Abstract

The Wollongong study was conducted between 2000 and 2004. Building on the logic presented in the concluding stages of Chapter 5, and the fact that relatively little research has used GIS to examine fear of crime, the overarching goal of the project was to develop a set of techniques using GIS and behavioural geography to investigate fear of crime among people working in the CBD area. Cognitive mapping was used to examine spatiotemporal patterns of avoidance behaviour at a collective level. Activity diary analysis was used as a means of investigating emotional levels of fear and protective behaviour in relation to daily routines. The study had a strong strategic focus – it was hoped that it would give rise to spatial outputs and a set of transferable techniques that could be used by police services and councils in fear-reduction initiatives. The results demonstrate that collective hotspots of fear have distinct, fine-scale patterns that vary through the course of the working day. The degree of spatiotemporal overlap between elements of the broken windows thesis was used to suggest the extent to which agencies concerned in the management of the CBD should involve themselves in specific problem areas. The activity diary analysis provided additional context and insights into protective behaviour and emotional levels of fear among people working in the CBD area. It was possible to integrate this body of spatial and temporal information with several strategic initiatives that took place at the conclusion of the Wollongong study such as the City Centre Revitalisation Strategy (WCC, 2003) and associated land use planning changes (Irwin et al., 2003). The core findings from the Wollongong Study were also integrated directly with a Crime Prevention and Community Safety Plan implemented in 2007 (WCC, 2007). A number of future research avenues arose from the research – these were later pursued in the Kings Cross study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fenner School of Environment & Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    Bruce J. Doran & Melissa B. Burgess

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  1. Bruce J. Doran
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  2. Melissa B. Burgess
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Correspondence to Bruce J. Doran .

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Doran, B.J., Burgess, M.B. (2012). The Wollongong Study. In: Putting Fear of Crime on the Map. Springer Series on Evidence-Based Crime Policy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5647-7_6

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