This study investigates crime in two socioeconomically distinctive localities in Accra, Cantonments and Jamestown. Over the years, scholars in the field of crime studies have attempted to ascertain a link between levels of criminal activities and socioeconomic phenomena such as poverty. Despite the fact that the Ghana police service (GPS) claim that crime rates have been declining steadily over the years, crime remains a major threat to the lives and property of people in Ghana considering the fact that the nation struggles with poverty, economic inequality, the ‘proliferation’ of illicit drugs, arms etc.
This study also addresses target hardening and the critical role it plays in protecting many civilians from being victims of criminal activity in their homes.
The main theoretical perspective of the study is the situational crime prevention theory. This theory aims at finding out reasons why certain crimes occur at particular locations. For instance, why a crime like armed robbery or theft is prevalent in Cantonments or why physical assault is prevalent in Jamestown. Using situational crime prevention as a guide, this study attempts investigate the reasons why certain crimes occur at particular locations in Cantonments and Jamestown.
Today, in order to properly deal with crime, it is important to know which crimes are frequent at a particular location be it an upper class residential area or a lower class residential area. Due to this reason, crime mapping through the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) plays a very crucial role in identifying crime hotspots. By so doing, it aids the appropriate authorities in combating crime.
Over the course of this study, property crimes such as armed robbery and burglary were found to be more prevalent in upper class residential areas like Cantonments whereas non-property crimes such as physical assault and murder are more prevalent in lower class settlements like Jamestown. It was also discovered that, highly sophisticated target hardening measures were more common in upper class residential areas like Cantonments. This study like the ‘Crime-poverty nexus’ studies by Owusu, Oteng-Ababio, et.al, (2016) recommends that crime prevention measures carried out by the police and other authorities must be place specific. This is because the unique socioeconomic circumstances of a locality determines the types of crime which are prevalent in that locality.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND STATEMENT
DEFINITION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES, HYPOTHESES AND PROPOSITIONS
LITERATURE REVIEW
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE
RESEARCH METHOD
DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS
CHAPTER TWO
INTRO TO PROBLEM STATEMENT
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES, HYPOTHESES AND PROPOSITIONS
CHAPTER THREE
HISTORY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF STUDY AREAS
LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS
HYPOTHESES TEST
LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY
CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This study aims to investigate the level and nature of criminal activities within two socioeconomically contrasting neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana: the affluent area of Cantonments and the lower-income settlement of Jamestown. By utilizing situational crime prevention theory, the research seeks to understand how socioeconomic disparities and target-hardening measures influence the prevalence and types of crimes experienced in these distinct environments.
- Comparative analysis of crime patterns in high-income versus low-income urban areas.
- The influence of socioeconomic status on the types of crimes (property vs. non-property).
- The role of situational crime prevention and target hardening in residential security.
- Assessment of public trust and willingness to report criminal activities to the police.
- Identification of specific crime hotspots within the studied communities.
Excerpt from the Book
Situational Crime Prevention
According to Clarke (1983), situational crime prevention is the, “science and art of decreasing the amount of opportunities for crime using “measures directed at highly specific forms of crime that involve the management, design, or manipulation of the immediate environment in a systematic and permanent way””. In a nutshell, situational crime prevention theories assume that greater opportunities lead to more crime, easier or less risky opportunities attract more perpetrators. Situational prevention theories are greatly influenced by other sociological theories on crime such as rational choice theory, routine activity theory, and crime pattern theory among others. According to rational choice theory, offenders focus on suitable targets while weighing the risks and benefits of their criminal activities in the absence of effective controls before committing any crime. For example, an armed robber will target a wealthy family who have a poor or weak home security system as against a less wealthy family who live in a slum notoriously known for lynching criminals. Routine activity theory on the other hand, argues that crime occurs due to the existence of three main variables. These include, a motivated offender, a suitable victim, and a lack of control by police and other security agencies.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: Provides an introduction to the research, including the background of the study, the problem definition, a review of relevant literature, theoretical perspectives, and the research methodology.
CHAPTER TWO: Details the problem statement, outlining the perceived differences in crime between the study areas and the specific objectives of the investigation.
CHAPTER THREE: Explores the historical background and the social structure of both Cantonments and Jamestown, contextualizing the socioeconomic environment of the participants.
CHAPTER FOUR: Presents the data analysis of the collected survey information, including findings on demographics, crime types, police assessment, and the results of the hypothesis testing.
CHAPTER FIVE: Offers a summary of the entire study, draws final conclusions based on the findings, and provides policy recommendations for crime reduction in the studied areas.
Keywords
Crime, Cantonments, Jamestown, Upper class residential area, Lower class residential area, Situational crime prevention, Target hardening, Property crime, Non-property crime, Socioeconomic status, Accra, Urban criminology, Police assessment, Crime hotspots, Residential security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The study focuses on the comparative analysis of criminal activity and security measures in two socioeconomically distinct neighborhoods in Accra: the affluent Cantonments and the lower-class area of Jamestown.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
The research examines crime types, the efficacy of target hardening (security measures), the socioeconomic status of residents, and the public's perception of police performance.
What is the core objective of the work?
The primary objective is to investigate the extent of criminal activity in the selected study areas and determine how specific socioeconomic conditions influence the types of crimes committed.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The study employs a quantitative research design, using questionnaires distributed to 120 respondents (60 from each area) and analyzing the data via Microsoft Excel and SPSS to test hypotheses.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The body chapters cover the historical and social structure of the locations, theoretical perspectives like situational crime prevention, detailed data analysis of survey responses, and a discussion of findings regarding crime hotspots and prevention strategies.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is best characterized by terms such as crime, Cantonments, Jamestown, socioeconomic status, situational crime prevention, target hardening, and urban criminology.
How do security practices differ between Cantonments and Jamestown?
Cantonments residents frequently utilize sophisticated target hardening measures like tall walls and private security, whereas Jamestown residents often lack formal security installations due to socioeconomic constraints.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the relationship between income and crime?
The author concludes that socioeconomic circumstances significantly influence the type of crime prevalent in a locality, with property crimes more common in affluent areas and non-property crimes more frequent in lower-class settlements.
Does education level affect the willingness to report crimes?
According to the hypothesis testing within this specific study, there was no statistically significant relationship found between the level of education and the willingness to report crimes to the police.
- Quote paper
- Selase Kwami (Author), 2017, The level of criminality in upper and lower class residential areas in Accra. The study of Cantonments and Jamestown, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/370290
