Urban Security (An Introductory Overview)
The economic transformation of the 21st century is directly linked to urbanization and social change. Urbanization has been driven by a confluence of factors: the functionalization of market-oriented dynamics as agriculture gained value alongside technological advancements; shifts in industrial and service sectors; the dominance of mass media; and transformations in sociological and environmental systems [1]. Urbanization brings about changes in all factors that constitute social structures and processes. As urbanization alters living environments, it inevitably leads to changes in lifestyles and patterns of interaction. These shifts—encompassing changes in family structures, cultural values, and political behaviors, as well as increased human mobility and social interaction—have naturally resulted in an increase in crime and penal issues, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Cities, home to the vast majority of the national population, are at the forefront of areas experiencing a heightened need for security, as their structures are rapidly affected by these dynamics of crime and punishment. Throughout history, the human desire for security has fostered communal living; this drive, coupled with the emergence of trade and industrialization in densely populated areas, paved the way for the formation of cities. However, over time, the widening disparity in population distribution between urban and rural areas, combined with high levels of population mobility, has created a significant security challenge. Although the wave of migration from villages to cities—triggered in the 1950s by industrialization and the resulting demand for labor—was initially viewed as a positive development, it subsequently became problematic due to dense urban populations, conflicts arising from people of diverse cultures living together, and socio-economic inequalities. According to the 2022 results of the Address-Based Population Registration System, 93.4% of the population resides in provincial and district centers. Based on this key statistic, it can be inferred that at least a corresponding proportion of crimes occurs within these urban centers.
Historically, the concept of the "city" emerged alongside terms such as *polis* and *cité*, which carried similar connotations. In Ancient Greece, the word *polis*—referring to the city-state—derived from *politikos* (related to politics) and signified a citadel or fortress, serving as a symbol of security. Similarly, ancient Turkic peoples used the word *kend* to denote a fortress. Even this brief historical overview demonstrates that the concepts of the city and security have consistently been addressed in tandem throughout history.
If the concepts of the city and security are inextricably linked and have evolved together over time, can the demands of modern urban dwellers for safer living environments in metropolises be adequately addressed within the narrow framework of traditional urban security? Urban security is a concept encompassing the implementation of preventive law enforcement activities in urban areas[2]. Can this concept effectively respond to the evolving security challenges and needs of individuals? Could the "Safe City Concept and Approach"—which emerged in the final quarter of the 20th century and continues to evolve—offer a solution to these questions?
The Safe City Approach; ...adopts an inclusive, interdisciplinary, and preventive approach that prioritizes the use of technology and administrative measures. Crime refers to actions prohibited by public authority, the commission of which entails sanctions. Furthermore, crime presupposes the existence of a set of rules—legal norms—that govern the consequences of such acts. Regarding the penalties associated with crimes and the locations where they occur, the security issues and crime density within large living spaces and urban areas—where public life unfolds—cannot be explained solely by the justice system or the behavioral codes of city dwellers. When examining the prevention of crime through a proactive lens, it becomes evident that municipalities—tasked with shaping our social and physical environments—bear a responsibility akin to that of auxiliary law enforcement. Stress sources originating from the environment are termed "negative environmental stimuli"; in other words, they are "environmental stressors"[3]. It is incorrect to characterize all environmental stimuli as negative; some serve as "positive inputs" for people. These are known as positive environmental stimuli. A pleasant view, a well-designed park, or a seaside setting are examples of such stimuli. Consequently, if cities are not well-designed, negative stressors are likely to increase, thereby making it impossible to establish the environmental conditions necessary for effective crime prevention.
Based on all the foregoing, it is evident that municipalities must provide services guided by a social approach to crime prevention and it can be stated that urban areas will need to be organized using a preventive approach.
Local governments play a major role in ensuring urban safety through their responsibilities in areas such as city planning, social services, education, health, public order, and emergency management. The contributions local governments can make in this regard can be grouped under several headings:
City Planning and Infrastructure Arrangements: Appropriate city planning and infrastructure arrangements are of great importance in enhancing urban safety. Elements such as lighting, traffic management, green spaces, parks, and safe walkways help reduce crime rates. More frequent and powerful lighting can be used in areas with high crime rates. Parks can be secured through adequate law enforcement presence and CCTV-based data/video analytics systems. In addition to the deterrent effect of security personnel, the checks and observations they conduct allow law enforcement to be instantly notified about individuals or profiles that appear suspicious.
Community-Based Cooperation Practices: Core security policies can be developed in collaboration with the local population. Public awareness can be raised through programs organized in neighborhoods aimed at pre-crime awareness. For instance, by modernizing the "Neighbourhood Watch" civil society movement—as implemented in the UK—and launching a program integrated with law enforcement, residents can receive training on identifying suspicious behaviors that may indicate criminal activity. They can also be enabled to notify law enforcement. Similar examples include residents illuminating their own building entrances, installing local monitoring systems, or pruning climbing plants and similar vegetation that might extend onto balconies. Social Services and Psychological Support Programs: Municipalities can help prevent individuals at risk of offending from turning to crime by implementing programs designed to meet the public's social needs. By establishing hobby or vocational training courses—and effectively promoting them—in socio-economically disadvantaged areas (often referred to as the city's outskirts), municipalities can enable residents to find meaningful activities and purposes in life. This approach can offer new perspectives and life goals to young people who—lacking the financial means for hobbies or social activities and surrounded by peers who also lack such outlets—might otherwise become isolated and driven toward gang involvement or crime. The programs and courses offered by *Enstitü İstanbul İSMEK* and *Spor İstanbul* serve as prime examples of such initiatives. Furthermore, free psychological support services provided by municipalities can address the needs of children and adolescents, while family therapy can help resolve conflicts and encourage more attentive parenting. These measures can help prevent substance abuse, the allure of crime, and violent tendencies.
Measures Regarding Women's Safety: Local governments can implement various measures to ensure women feel safe in urban environments. Examples include allowing women to disembark from municipal buses at locations of their choice during evening hours (as seen in a specific *IETT* initiative), eliminating dark or secluded areas within the city, and establishing women's shelters. Furthermore, increasing female employment within the municipal workforce—an initiative actively supported and spearheaded by our Metropolitan Municipality—will bolster women's economic independence and significantly contribute to their sense of safety in urban life. As applications like KADES and similar tools (such as "Güvenlik Çağır-İstanbul Senin")—which provide instant access to law enforcement and auxiliary security support—become more widespread and expand their reach, their deterrent effect will grow, facilitating the evolution of cities into truly women-friendly environments.
Care for Stray Animals: Vaccinating, neutering, and conducting health screenings for stray animals living on city streets, as well as ensuring they receive necessary nutrition, is vital for the well-being of these animals and for public health and safety. However, it is crucial that these activities be carried out using "feasible" and "predictable" methods; otherwise, improper practices could cause more harm than good.
Emergency Management: Local governments must always be prepared for extraordinary situations—such as natural disasters, fires, and terrorist attacks—and act strategically to rapidly ensure urban safety. Managing logistics is the most critical component of emergency planning; therefore, a logistics network must be devised that integrates urban transformation and city planning processes (including the development of metro corridors and underground rail networks).
Urban Transformation and
Urban Planning: When undertaking urban planning, the safety of the citizens who will reside there must be prioritized. Building setbacks, green spaces, sports facilities, and social areas should be proactively designed to enhance urban safety.
Technology Investments: AI-supported CCTV systems should be installed wherever necessary, and parks, gardens, and social areas should be kept under surveillance. Furthermore, mobile applications for city residents could be developed to enable them to share situations causing safety concerns in real-time with law enforcement agencies and private security units responsible for the area.
Urban safety cannot be established solely through the efforts of law enforcement agencies, given the rapid pace of technological advancement, the fact that metropolises are constantly receiving migrants, and the influence of numerous other parameters—all of which contribute to a rise in crime and crime-prone behaviors. On the other hand, the public's perception of safety is not shaped by a single factor but is the result of a combination of elements such as crime rates, the physical and social characteristics of the area, satisfaction with and trust in law enforcement, individual differences, and social capital [4]. Identifying the factors that influence the perception of safety—which plays a significant role in individuals' lives—is crucial not only for determining and implementing crime prevention strategies by law enforcement, auxiliary law enforcement, and (where necessary) the armed forces under Provincial Administration Law No. 5442, but also for the development of public policies. Local governments have a major role to play regarding these factors and the potential improvements and enhancements that can be made to them. Cost-effective and significant progress can be achieved through the development of the right strategies. By examining best practices and examples from other countries, various measures tailored to the unique nature of each city can be implemented. It can be said that the role played by municipalities—which will be the subject of the security studies we intend to present in future issues—is of critical importance in creating safe and sustainable cities.
Stay safe—safe enough to get bored! :)
Best regards,
Dr. Barbaros Dinçer Murat Emrah YILDIRIM
Field Coordination Manager General Manager
İSTGÜVEN A.Ş. İSTGÜVEN A.Ş.
[1] A. KAYAN; İ. MARDİNLİ, “Evaluation of the Relationship Between Urbanization, Social Change, and Economic Development” <chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/1434377>. p. 1
[2] İ. GÜNDÜZÖZ; “The Safe City Approach in Turkey and the World: Urban Security or Safe City?”; *Türk İdare Dergisi* (Turkish Journal of Public Administration), Issue: 483, p. 336.
[3] İ. GÜNDÜZÖZ; *ibid.*; p. 338
[4] L. DE DONDER, N. DE WITTE; “Social Capital and Feelings of Unsafety in Later Life: A Study on the Influence of Social Networks, Place Attachment, and Civic Participation on Perceived Safety in Belgium”, *Research on Aging* journal, Issue: 34, No. 4, 2012, pp. 425-448.