Architecture and criminality

Architecture and criminality 

Almost a year ago, in an article for the Sunday Times, the then UK Prime Minister David Cameron (a lot can happen in less than a year) described sink estates as concrete slabs dropped form on high, brutal high-rise towers and dark alleyways that are a gift to criminals and drug dealers, adding that decades of neglect have led to gangs and antisocial behaviour. The solution he proposed was to knock the worst estates down and redevelop them with private capital (I guess that some estates are at prime locations). The government would inject 140 million pounds to rehouse occupants and tear up planning rules to speed up the process (every time I hear about speeding up planning and design processes I think it's a great way to escape scrutiny).

I heard about it back then on The News Quiz. Miles Jump who was presenting it commented: "Of course, that's what drives most people to crime: architecture".