Mapping Urban Place And Space: Fear Of Crime And The Re-Configuration Of Occupational Geographies In Tamale, Ghana

ABSTRACT Throughout history, studies have amply revealed that where people choose to settle within the urban space is not new. This has been explained to be an important part of the urbanisation process. Effect of fear of crime on the urban environment especially that which involves the re-location of activities and the restructuring of the built environment as an impact factor response strategy is less acknowledged in urban security scholarship especially in developing countries. Rather, continuous emphases are been placed on prevailing economic conditions as the main precursor of changes in urban land use. This study illustrates using evidence from the field to support the fact that fearful individuals who are living in high crime prone areas tend to relocate to perceived safer and friendly environments. The main objective of this study examines how residents living in Tamale respond to or address their perceived fear of crime. The following questions were addressed in the study: Where are the perceived crime hotspots? What are peoples perceptions about the general safety of the community? What are peoples levels of confidence of the institutional arrangement for crime prevention? The study covered 450 households in three different socio-economic neighbourhoods in Tamale, and 23 key informant interviews including 10 operators of educational facilities, hotels, and retail outlets who have in one way or the other been victims of crime. The analysis was performed using maps, descriptive statistics, diagrams, vignettes to obtain the desired data information. The major finding of the study revealed that crime and disorder were higher in the lower income neighbourhood compared to the higher income neighbourhood. The study deduced evidence to support the fact that many households tend to relocate to more perceived safer and friendly environment. Based on the observation, the study recommends a broader and integrated approach in all policies aimed at ensuring territorial cohesion.