Crime Prevention Proposal

Introduction:

In Malaysia, crime rate keep on increasing from time to time and has been threat to the security and peaceful environment of the community. Department of Town and Country Planning had implemented Safe City concept as one of the ways to reduce crime. The concept of Safe City aims at creating a safe and peaceful environment of city and housing, so as to reduce crime rate through environmental design principles, security and community development. Therefore, the study is to identify some of the aspects of community development of the Safe City concept in the Georgetown area in Penang.

“Menjelang tahun 2020, dianggarkan hampir 65 peratus penduduk di Semenanjung Malaysia akan mendiami kawasan bandar. Kawasan bandar merupakan penggerak dan nadi kepada ekonomi yang berkonsepkan teknologi. Kesan perbandaran di negara ini tidak terkecuali daripada masalah aktiviti-aktiviti globalisasi, antaranya ialah risiko kesejahteraan dan keselamatan yang tinggi kerana bandar tidak lagi mempunyai ciri-ciri yang selesa [conducive] untuk memberi perlindungan kepada kesejahteraan hidup [well being] manusia [Zainuddin bin Hj. Muhammad, 2000]”.

Problem statement:

• Penang, like many Asian cities, is facing increased social and environmental problems caused by rapid urbanization. The city population is increasing due to rural-urban migration as well as the immigrant from outside country. The enlargement of urban areas has resulted in an increase in the problems, needs and complexities relating to urban governance.
• Local government capacity to provide basic necessities, such as adequate and safe pedestrian walkway, proper lighting to enhance the level of visibility during night time, bollard to cater illegal parking and other safety purposes is being challenged by the increased urban populations.
• The lack of these services has resulted in a deterioration of community health standards, as local areas face increased numbers of crimes happening.

Research objective:

• The purpose of study is to identify all the crime prevention measures being done in Penang.
• The study also to determine the effectiveness of the crime prevention measures that has been done.
• The study will also cooperate with the police department to locate the crime area in Penang so that further efforts can be assigned to cater the problem.

Scope of study:

• The safe city programme under the purview of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government provides basic information on the status of implementation of the 23 measures; what measures still remains to be improved etc.
• The boundary of the study has been identified in the City of Georgetown, Penang.
• Georgetown area has been one of the busiest place and lots of activities such as economies, education, social, and etc.
  

Research question:

• What are the crime prevention measures been done in Penang?
• Is it enough to serve its purposes to promote Safe City?
• Where is the crime prevention measures installed?
• What are the other safety elements to be introduced to create safe environment?