INFORMAL SURVEILLANCE AND STREET CRIME: A COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP*

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.2000.tb00886.x
• Publication Date: 2006-03-07T23:21:47Z
• Authors: PAUL E. BELLAIR
• Keywords: Fear of Crime; Informal social control; Crime Prevention

The systemic crime model predicts that informal surveillance of space reduces street crime. Conversely, community decline theory posits by increasing residents' perception risk and fear. Moreover, functions suggests some types may increase surveillance. Using data for 100 urban neighborhoods, the analysis examines these predictions disentangles reciprocal effects. Baseline recursive equations indicate is inversely associated with robbery/stranger assault, assault In contrast, burglary rates are not affected surveillance, but has a positive effect on when controlled. Simultaneous moderately strong inverse it mediated perceptions risk. When controlled, an assault. latter also indicates increases suggesting serve functions. results, therefore, lend support to systemic, decline, theory, they suggest relationship between complex. Implications research discussed.