ABSTRACT

Based on the Guardianship in Action (GIA) model presented in the previous chapter, this chapter presents a new observational tool for measuring active guardianship by residents as well as the environmental potential in their residential areas for guarding against crime. In the first instance, a preliminary test of the observation measures is conducted to examine their reliability and validity as a measurement instrument. Once these are established and the measures refined, this chapter goes on to present the results of the first empirical test of the GIA model. Results show that guardianship by residents can be predicted by several environmental factors revealing the close relationship between visible availability, monitoring and intervention with spatio-physical and socio-demographic environmental characteristics. Key findings also reveal that the amount of property crime on decreases as the intensity of guardianship at properties increases.