Permeability and Burglary Risk: Are Cul-de-Sacs Safer?

It Looks Good, but What is it Like to Live There? Exploring the Impact of Innovative Housing Design on Crime

“…Beavon et al (1994, in Canada) and Johnson and Bowers (2010, in the UK) demonstrated that increases in the number of roads connected to a street segment led to statistically significant increases in the number of burglaries to that segment. These increases were greatest when street segment connections lead to a major traffic thoroughfare (White 1990, in the USA andJohnson andBowers 2010). Further, the majority of research projects directly comparing burglary levels on highly connected through roads to culs-de-sac and streets with the lowest connectivity have demonstrated that culs-de-sac experience the lowest rates of burglary (Bevis and Nutter, 1977;Mirlees-Black et al, 1998;Rengert and Hakim, 1998;Armitage, 2000;Hakim et al, 2001;Yang, 2006;Johnson and Bowers, 2010).…”

“…These increases were greatest when street segment connections lead to a major traffic thoroughfare (White 1990, in the USA andJohnson andBowers 2010). Further, the majority of research projects directly comparing burglary levels on highly connected through roads to culs-de-sac and streets with the lowest connectivity have demonstrated that culs-de-sac experience the lowest rates of burglary (Bevis and Nutter, 1977;Mirlees-Black et al, 1998;Rengert and Hakim, 1998;Armitage, 2000;Hakim et al, 2001;Yang, 2006;Johnson and Bowers, 2010). Johnson and Bowers' (2010) study further concluded that culs-de-sac are safer than through roads and that sinuous ii culs-de-sac are safer still.…”

“…Further, the majority of research projects directly comparing burglary levels on highly connected through roads to culs-de-sac and streets with the lowest connectivity have demonstrated that culs-de-sac experience the lowest rates of burglary (Bevis and Nutter, 1977;Mirlees-Black et al, 1998;Rengert and Hakim, 1998;Armitage, 2000;Hakim et al, 2001;Yang, 2006;Johnson and Bowers, 2010). Johnson and Bowers' (2010) study further concluded that culs-de-sac are safer than through roads and that sinuous ii culs-de-sac are safer still. However the study did not distinguish between 'true' culs-de-sac and 'leaky' culs-de-sac (those that are breached by footpaths).…”

“…The table below summarises the literature reviewed on the impact of through-movement on levels of crime within residential developments, highlighting the dominance of studies concluding that higher levels of through movement increase the risk of crime. Armitage (2006) Being located on a travel path increases the risk of crime Letkemann (1973) Brantingham (1984) Feeney (1986) Gabor et al (1987) Poyner andWebb (1991) Wiles and Costello (2000) Rengert and Wasilchick (2000) Being located on a culs-de-sac, or a development with low connectivity, reduces the risk of crime Bevis and Nutter (1977) Johnson and Bowers (2010) Closing off streets reduces crime Matthews (1992) Atlas and LeBlanc (1994) Newman (1995Newman ( ,1996 Lasley (1998) Zavoski et al (1999) Eck (2002 Being located on a leaky culs-de-ac increases the risk of crime Hillier (2004) Armitage (2006) Being located on a development with high levels of permeability/connectivity/through movement reduces the risk of crime Hillier and Shu (1998) Shu (2000) Hillier (2004) Hillier and Sahbaz (2009) The review of policy and guidance documents revealed several areas of contention regarding through-movement and connectivity. Manual for Streets (Department for Transport, 2007) highlights that street networks should be connected to encourage walking and cycling and that connectivity within and between developments is important.…”

“…Secured by Design New Homes (ACPO Secured by Design, 2010), on the other hand, reiterates the research evidence that high levels of connectivity create opportunities for criminals. While only two guidance documents actually discouraged the use of culs-de-sac (CABE, 2009 andQueensland Government, 2007) Johnson and Bowers (2010) highlight how sinuous (curvy) as opposed to linear culs-de-sac experience less crime (although both experience less crime than through roads).…”