The Impact of Perceived Visual Access and Exposure on Fear of Crime at Ground-Floor Entrances of Multi-Family Housing

This study analyzed the impact of perceived visual exposure and access on fear of crime at ground-floor entrances of multi-family housing . The findings indicated that visual exposure and access were significant factors influencing fear of crime. In Analysis 1, participants were categorized into four groups based on their perceived levels of visual exposure and access. Groups with high visual exposure and high access reported lower levels of fear of crime, whereas groups with low exposure and low access exhibited higher levels of fear of crime. Analysis 2 revealed that gender, building type, and visual access and exposure significantly affected fear of crime. However, as additional variables from the fear of crime causation model were included, the significance of visual access diminished. This finding suggests that visual access indirectly influences fear of crime through interactions with other factors. Moreover, informal social control factors, such as the presence of owner-residents in the building, played a critical role in reducing fear of crime. Additionally, the study is significant in identifying the effect of surveillance-related provisions in Article 11 of the Crime Prevention Building Code Standards on reducing fear of crime.