“Broken Window” theory – whatnow?
The “Broken Window” theory simply states that crime and uncivilized behavior can be reduced by the physical beautificaion of a neighborhood or districts, and changing certain configurations in the physical environment, i.e. one broken window that doesn’t get fixed signals that there’s no one watching out or in charge, and will therefore lead to more broken windows.
A fairly recent study show that this might actually be true, and much more effective than surveillance or authority presence, though these can of course very efficiently compliment the “clean-up”.
Take a look at the article, and of course, Bruce wants a word in.
In practise, these things prove that a neighborhood watch organization and a combined effort to keep a neighborhood clean and the up-keep…kept up, so to speak, will in the long run be very effective.
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