Assessing the sense of security and crime prevention in the public spaces of residential complexes by using Prospect, Refuge, and Escape

Nowadays, paying attention to the concept of citizen security and its promotion methods has become one of the basic priorities of professionals. In police organization proper urban planning will prevent crime it will also, boost quality of life and increase satisfaction and improve social welfare of the community. In this research, in this paper, considering the importance of the security issue and the aspects of fear of crime, the theory of Prospect/Refuge is used as the interface between the characteristics of the outdoor environment and the fear of crime. This method can bring  the perception of security by individuals in different levels. The aim of this paper is to investigate factors affecting sense of fear in urban space, with emphasis on the components: Prospect, Refuge, and Escape.

The method of data collection that was used in this paper was library studies, Field observation, and using camera tools and questionnaires. The method of analysis is based on multi variables regression test and semantic differentiation technique and SPSS software. The research sample includes 460 residents of Mashhad residents complex whom were selected by random..

Findings suggest that lack of Prospect for criminals, Refuge and Escape spots for victims have caused fear for people and reduced security. There is also a sense of security in relation to physical factors such as lighting, vegetated cover, lack of sitting and resting places, adequate visibility for people and lack of access to escape way for victims.

The results of research show that the reasons for emptiness insecurity feeling from physical-behavioral factors are as follows: day and night silences, lack of sitting and resting places, lack of adequate lighting, Long vegetated cover and blind spots to hide and conceal criminals, lack of police surveillance and access to escape way for criminals.