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Edgeways as a theoretical extension: connecting crime pattern theory and New Urbanism

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Crime Prevention and Community Safety Aims and scope

Abstract

Recently, scholars have examined the criminological implications of the growing trend of new urban design. Building on recent research (Cozens in Urban Policy Res 26(4):429–444, 2008) and past theoretical works (Brantingham and Brantingham in J Environ Psychol 13(1):3–28, 1993; Eur J Crim Policy Res 3(3):5–26, 1995), the current project suggests crime pattern theory requires new conceptual terms to understand and investigate the implications of crime clustering in new urban areas. It is argued in the current project that “edgeways”—or edges that become simultaneous paths—are prevalent in new urban space due to an array of combining features such as crowd generation, alleyways and parking difficulties, incomplete implementation of new urban principles, and the density paradox. The current paper entails a theoretical discussion of the problem and potential policy implications.

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Correspondence to Ethan M. Higgins.

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Higgins, E.M., Swartz, K. Edgeways as a theoretical extension: connecting crime pattern theory and New Urbanism. Crime Prev Community Saf 20, 1–15 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41300-017-0021-8

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