Residents’ perception of safety in a vulnerable neighborhood : A case study from Andersberg, Gävle, Sweden

Sammanfattning: Feeling safe is important for residents in their neighborhoods, but how do residents living in an area rumored to be unsafe perceive safety? This case study examined the perceived safety in a vulnerable area (Swedish: Utsatt område) in Gävle, Sweden. These vulnerable neighborhoods fall under the Swedish million housing program that consist of residential areas with large and high resident buildings that are often densified. This study aimed to examine the residents’ perception of safety in a neighborhood with the same conditions, in addition to evaluate crime prevention in the area using crime prevention through environmental design principles. territoriality, natural surveillance, activity support and access control. The aim of this study was achieved by using the following methods: CPTED inventory, safety walks and a survey. The safety walk was conducted with residents of the area. The inventory showed that crime prevention in the area is considered low, however, the results from safety walk suggest that the residents perceive the area as moderately safe. This study provides some suggestions in order to provide better crime prevention and better perception of safety in the area.Examples among the suggestions were to better the lighting and create more pedestrian crossovers on the car-based roads to decrease possible barrier effects.