17 May 2012

Design seeks to cut city centre booze crime

Ways of better designing the layout of city centres to reduce alcohol-related crime have been examined by a Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design student.

Kirsty Braes, an Interior Environmental Design graduand, has been exploring the ways in which design can be used to tackle crime as part of her final year project. The results of her work, including plans for an integrated service hub to prevent large groups of revellers roaming the streets after closing time, will go on display at this year's Degree Show at DJCAD, part of the university of Dundee.

Over half of all arrests in the UK are made between 11pm and 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. In conducting her research, Kirsty found that the layout of city centres, including the location of services which are used after pubs and clubs shut, such as taxi ranks, cash machines and takeaway venues, can be seen to contribute to this.

Kirsty (21), from Montrose, says that distances between such services creates aimless wandering and groups of people in the streets, which can lead to violent behaviour. Her hub idea would see a taxi rank, cash machines, hot food outlets and other services centralised in one location where a combination of creative design and surveilance can help to keep revellers safe.

"When it came to writing my dissertation, I wanted to do something related to crime. This is something I am interested in, and I wanted to explore how people's behaviour is influenced by design. I looked at city centres, and the way in which services are located within nightclub district has an affect on crime rates.

"I worked with Tayside Police and 505050 Taxi's, looking at the challenges they face on busy weekend nights. What I found was that the services in Dundee are spread all over the place, and this means people disperse in different directions. This creates a lot of wandering between these locations and opportunities for alcohol-related aggression to find an outlet."

Kirsty has identified a site in Dundee city centre, near several pubs, clubs and other venues that would ideally serve as the location for her hub. As well as being able to procure taxi's and food, people would be able to withdraw money from cash machines and charge their phones so they can call for lifts rather than wandering the streets.

Help points would provide assistance for those who require it, while CCTV footage from inside nearby clubs would challenge people to think about their alcohol consumption and behaviour when under the influence.

The centre would feature blue lights, wood panelling and other design features proven to elevate mood while calming music would be pumped into the hub. The floor would be made of a special type of rubber which is safe, smart and low maintenance

Kirsty continued, "Although this is based in Dundee, this is a very important issue that affects every town and city in the UK and one that can never be completely eradicated, although I am interested in how the design of an environment can reduce instances.

"From working with the CCTV team at Tayside Police, I have seen the vital importance of surveillance in keeping people safe, and this could be used to spot potentially vulnerable people and possible flashpoints.

"Overall, my aim is to create a safe place which would be under surveillance, close to the nightclubs which will integrate food, a taxi rank, and other services which will give people a place to go, whilst encouraging them to take a look at themselves and think about their behaviour."

More information about Kirsty's work can be found at www.kirstybraes.weebly.com. She is one of almost 300 students exhibiting at the 2012 DJCAD Degree Show.

Notes to editors:

Dundee Degree Show
19th -27 May 2012 (Preview May 18th)
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
University of Dundee
13 Perth Road
Dundee DD1 4HT
T 01382 388828.
E djcadexhibitions@dundee.ac.uk
www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow

Exhibition open:
Saturday, May 19th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 20th (10am-4pm)
Monday, May 21st (10am-8pm)
Tuesday, May 22nd (10am-8pm)
Wednesday, May 23rd (10am-8pm)
Thursday, May 24th (10am-8pm)
Friday, May 25th (10am-8pm)
Saturday, May 26th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 27th (10am-4pm)

Graduate work on display:
Animation
Art, Philosophy, Contemporary Practices
Digital Interaction Design
Fine Art
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interior Environmental Design
Jewellery & Metal Design
Product Design
Textile Design
Time Based Art & Digital Film

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277