Date of Award

1-1-2004

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Master of Criminal Justice

School

School of Justice and Business Law

Faculty

Faculty of Business and Public Management

First Supervisor

Irene Froyland

Abstract

To date, most research on closed circuit television (CCTV) has come out of the United Kingdom (UK) where the growth of CCTV has reached immense proportions with wide support and funding from the Home Office. There are 33 systems operating in Australia, with the focus of this research on the first system installed in Perth, Western Australia in 1991. There is a dearth of information on CCTV in Australia, and little research looking at the link between CCTV, women’s safety and fear of crime. The literature on fear of crime shows that women are more fearful than men even though they are less likely to be offended against. Many reasons are proposed in the literature including vulnerability, victimisation and past experience of crime, environmental factors, and psychological factors to explain women’s fear. Many methodological problems are presented in the fear of crime literature. The core aim of this research was to collect information attitudes, knowledge and opinions about closed circuit television (CCTV) and women’s safety. Six qualitative interviews were conducted with women who work in the fields related to CCTV and women’s safety or who have a keen interest in the field. A further 295 women in the community were surveyed about issues relating to the purpose and effectiveness of CCTV, attitudes about CCTV and general feelings towards crime and safety. The findings show that women are overwhelmingly supportive of CCTV in public spaces and believe CCTV reduces crime and increases feelings of safety. However, women consider the current level of surveillance to be sufficient, and would like to see more police officers, women police and improved street lighting. Women are fearful for their safety at night and are afraid of personal crimes more than property crimes. Women are fearful at the railway station, when they are alone, in car parks and walkways and when waiting for taxis. Older women are more supportive of CCTV than younger women and all women would like to be made more aware the CCTV system.

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