Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Safety in Stockholm’s Underground Stations: An Agenda for Action

  • Published:
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this article is to propose an agenda for interventions to prevent or reduce crime and disorder at underground stations in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The article first reports the nature, the levels, and the patterns of crime and disorder across time and space. Different types of crime are analyzed and specific conclusions are drawn for each type of crime which relate to the suggested interventions presented in this article. Findings lend weight to principles of situational crime prevention to improve security in transport nodes, with overlaps with routine activity and social disorganization theories. Intervention measures comprehend suggestions on both environmental design related changes and more complex social aspects regarding the reduction of crime at transport nodes. Suggestions for interventions at Stockholm’s underground stations, as presented here, constitute an illustration of what can be achieved with situational crime prevention principles; however, they may not be regarded as a “one-size-fits-all” solution to the demands and challenges of safety in transport nodes elsewhere.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. A significance level of 10 % is a common practice in criminology and used here to eliminate the variables that did not contribute to the model.

References

  • Alm, C., & Lindberg, E. (2000). Perceived risk, feelings of safety and worry associated with different travel modes: Pilot study. KFB-meddelande 2000:7. Stockholm: KFB.

  • Alm, C., & Lindberg, E. (2004). Betydelsen av upplevda risker och känslor av otrygghet vid resor med kollektivtrafik: En undersökning i Göteborg samt jämförelse med resultat från Norrköping och Stockholm [The meaning of experienced risks and unsafe feelings while traveling by public transport: A investigation in Gothenburg in comparison with results from Norrköping and Stockholm]. (VTI meddelande 962). Linköping, Sweden: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute.

  • Atkins, S., Husain, S., & Storey, A. (1991). The influence of street lighting on crime and the fear of crime. Crime Prevention Unit Paper 28. London: Home Office.

  • Bernasco, W., & Block, R. (2011). Robberies in Chicago: a block-level analysis of the influence of crime generators, crime attractors, and offender anchor points. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 48(1), 33–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Block, R. L., & Block, C. R. (1995). Space, place, and crime: Hot spot areas and hot places of liquor-related crime. In J. Eck & D. Weisburd (Eds.), Crime and place (pp. 145–183). Monsey: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham, P., & Brantingham, P. (Eds.). (1981). Environmental criminology. Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham, P., & Brantingham, P. (1995). Criminality of place: crime generators and crime attractors. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 3(3), 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brottsforebygganderadet, B. R. Å. (2008). Brottsutvecklingen i Sverige fram till ar 2007 [Crime developments in Sweden until 2007]. Stockholm: Brottsforebygganderadet.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bursik, R. J., Jr., & Grasmick, H. G. (1993). Neighborhoods and crime: The dimensions of effective community control. New York: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccato, V., Uittenbogaard, A., & Bamzar, R. (2013). Security in Stockholm’s underground stations: the importance of environmental attributes and context. Security Journal, 26, 33–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V. (1995). Situational crime prevention. In M. Tonry & D. Farrington (Eds.), Building a safer society: Strategic approaches to crime prevention (pp. 91–150). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V. (1997). Introduction. In R. V. Clarke (Ed.), Situational crime prevention: Successful case studies (2nd ed., pp. 1–43). Monsey: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V., & Felson, M. (Eds.). (1993). Routine activity and rational choice: Vol. 5. Advances in criminological theory. New Brunswick: Transaction Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, L. E., & Felson, M. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: a routine activity approach. American Sociological Review, 44(4), 588–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornish, D. B., & Clarke, R. V. (2003). Opportunities, precipitators and criminal decisions: A reply to Wortley’s critique of situational crime prevention. In M. Smith & D. Cornish (Eds.), Theory for situational crime prevention (Crime prevention studies, Vol. 16, pp. 41–96). Monsey: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cozens, P., Neale, R., Whitaker, J., & Hillier, D. (2003). Managing crime and the fear of crime at railway stations—a case study in South Wales (UK). International Journal of Transport Management, 1(3), 121–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). (1999). Personal security issues in pedestrian journeys. London: DETR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, D. P., & Welsh, B. C. (2002). Effects of improved street lighting on crime: A systematic review (Home Office Research Study 251). London: Home Office Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geason, S., & Wilson, P. (1990). Preventing graffiti and vandalism. Crime prevention series. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfield, A. F. G., Brown, P. J. B., & Bowers, K. J. (1995). Exploring relations between crime and disadvantage on Merseyside. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 3(3), 93–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ihlanfeldt, K. R. (2003). Rail transit and neighborhood crime: the case of Atlanta, Georgia. Southern Economic Journal, 70(2), 273–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S. D., Sidebottom, A., & Thorpe, A. (2008). Bicycle theft (Problem-oriented Guides for Police, Problem-specific Guides Series Guide No. 52). Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. http://www.popcenter.org/problems/bicycle_theft/. Accessed 27 May 2013.

  • Kinney, J. B., Brantingham, P. L., Wuschke, K., Kirk, M. G., & Brantingham, P. J. (2008). Crime attractors, generators and detractors: Land use and urban crime opportunities. Built Environment, 34(1), 62–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kornhauser, R. (1978). Social sources of delinquency. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lab, S. P. (2007). Crime prevention: Approaches, practices and evaluations (6th ed.). Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loukaitou-Sideris, A. (1999). Hot spots of bus stop crime: the importance of environmental attributes. Journal of the American Planning Association, 65(4), 395–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loukaitou-Sideris, A. (2006). Is it safe to walk? Neighborhood safety and security considerations and their effects on walking. Journal of Planning Literature, 20(3), 219–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loukaitou-Sideris, A. (2012). Safe on the move: The importance of the built environment. In V. Ceccato (Ed.), The urban fabric of crime and fear (pp. 85–110). London: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loukaitou-Sideris, A., Liggett, R., & Iseki, H. (2002). The geography of transit crime: documentation and evaluation of crime incidence on and around the Green Line Stations in Los Angeles. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 22(2), 135–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loukaitou-Sideris, A., Bornstein, A., Fink, C., Samuels, L., & Germai, S. (2009). How to ease women’s fear of transportation environments: Case studies and best practices (MTI Report 09–01). San José, CA: San José State University, Mineta Transportation Institute.

  • LaVigne, N. G. (1997). Visibility and vigilance: Metro’s situational approach to preventing subway crime (National Institute of Justice–Research in Brief). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, R., & Smith, M. J. (2006a). Vandalism and graffiti. In M. J. Smith & D. B. Cornish (Eds.), Secure and tranquil travel: Preventing crime and disorder on public transport (pp. 126–151). London: University College London (UCL) Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, R., & Smith, M. J. (2006b). Crimes against passengers – theft, robbery, assault and indecent assault. In M. Smith & D. B. Cornish (Eds.), Secure and tranquil travel: Preventing crime and disorder on public transport (pp. 77–102). London: UCL Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, O. (1972). Defensible space: Crime prevention through urban design. New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, O. (1992). Improving the viability of two Dayton communities: Five Oaks and Dunbar Manor. Great Neck: Institute for Community Design Analysis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, A., Johnson, S. D., & Bowers, K. J. (2004). Crime on bus routes: an evaluation of a safer travel initiative. International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 27(3), 302–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearlstein, A., & Wachs, M. (1982). Crime in public transit systems: an environmental design perspective. Transportation, 11(3), 277–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piza, E., & Kennedy, D. (2003). Transit stops, robbery, and routine activities: Examining street robbery in the Newark, NJ subway environment. http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc04/docs/pap1303.pdf. Accessed 28 May 2013.

  • Poole, M. A., & O’Farrell, P. N. (1971). The assumptions of the linear regression model. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 52, 145–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priks, M. (2009). The effect of surveillance cameras on crime: Evidence from the Stockholm subway. CESifo Working Paper Series No. 2905. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1536432.

  • Robinson, J., & Giliano, L. (2012). Spatial interplay: Interaction of land uses in relation to crime incidents around transit stations. In M. A. Andresen & J. B. Kinney (Eds.), Patterns, prevention, and geometry of crime (pp. 137–147). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, R. J., & Raudenbush, S. W. (1999). Systematic social observation of public spaces: a new look at disorder in urban neighborhoods. The American Journal of Sociology, 105(3), 603–651.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, R. J., Raundenbush, S. W., & Earls, F. (1997). Neighborhoods and violent crime: a multilevel study of collective efficacy. Science, 277(5328), 918–924.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, C. R., & McKay, H. D. (1942). Juvenile delinquency and urban areas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, L. W., Gottfredson, D., MacKenzie, D., Eck, J., Reuter, P., & Bushway, S. (Eds.). (1998). Preventing crime: What works, what doesn’t, what’s promising. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M., & Clarke, R. (2000). Crime and public transport. In M. Tonry & N. Morris (Eds.), Crime and justice: A review of research, Vol. 27 (pp. 169–233). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. J., & Cornish, D. B. (Eds.). (2006). Secure and tranquil travel: Preventing crime and disorder on public transport. London: UCL Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stangeby, I., & Nossum, Å. (2004). Tryggkollektiv trafik: trafikanters upplevelse av kollektiv trafik resor och återgärder för att öka tryggheten [Safe public transport: passengers’ experience of public transport journeys and measures for increased safety]. Transport ekonomisk institut. https://www.toi.no/getfile.php/Publikasjoner/T%C3%98I%20rapporter/2004/704a-2004/704a-2004-el.pdf. Accessed 20 June 2013.

  • Stockholm Public Transport Annual Report. (2006). Storstockholms Lokaltrafik. 2007-06-21. pp. 17.

  • Stockholm stad. (2010). Hemlösa i Stockholms stad 15 april 2010, tabeller och kommentarer. Socialtjänst- och arbetsmarknadsförvaltningen.

  • Stockholm stad. (2013). http://www.stockholm.se/Fristaende-webbplatser/Fackforvaltningssajter/Socialtjanstforvaltningen/Utvecklingsenheten/Utvecklingsprojekt/Sociala-insatsgrupper/. Accessed 28 May 2013.

  • Stucky, T. D., & Ottensmann, J. R. (2009). Land use and violent crime. Criminology, 47(4), 1223–1264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, B., & Laycock, G. (1992). Reducing crime on the London underground: An evaluation of three pilot projects (Crime Prevention Unit Series Paper No. 30). London: Home Office Police Department.

  • Weisel, D. L. (2004). Graffiti (Problem-oriented Guides for Police Series No. 9). U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. http://www.popcenter.org/problems/graffiti/3/. Accessed 27 May 2013.

  • Wilson, J. Q., & Kelling, G. (1982). The police and neighbourhood safety: broken windows. Atlantic Monthly, 127, 29–38.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Swedish Transport Administration (Traffikverket), Stockholm Public Transport (SL), and Stockholm Municipality for financing this research project. Thanks also to Ulla Wittrock (Stockholm County Police Department), Stefan Liljevall (Stockholm Statistics), Mats Pergel (SL), and Peter Assor (Veolia) for providing data for the analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEFIN—School of Architeture and the Built Environment, Royal Institute of Technology, Drottning Kristinas väg 30, 10044, Stockholm, Sweden

    Adriaan Uittenbogaard & Vania Ceccato

Authors
  1. Adriaan Uittenbogaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vania Ceccato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vania Ceccato.

Appendices

Appendix 1

The Stockholm Underground System

Stockholm is part of an archipelago. The islands are well connected by roads and an efficient public transportation system, comprising buses, the Stockholm underground system, rail systems, and commuter trains. The Stockholm underground system is composed of three lines: Green, Blue, and Red. The Green Line has 49 stations (39 of these are aboveground); it is used by 451,000 passengers per workday, and it is the biggest line in terms of the numbers of passengers and stations. The Red Line, which includes 36 stations (15 of these are aboveground), transports 394,000 passengers per workday. The Blue Line consists of 20 stations (only 1 station aboveground) and transports 171,000 passengers per workday. The trains are operated from 0500 h to 0100 h. All lines have trains running every 10 min during daytime hours. It is limited to every 15 min during the early morning and the late evening, and every 30 min during the night. During peak hours, additional trains operate every 5 to 6 min in suburb stations, with 2 to 3 min between trains in the central parts of the network (Stockholm Public Transport Annual Report 2006). The underground system is owned by the Stockholm County Council through Stockholm Public Transport (SL), which has contracted operators.

figure a

Appendix 2

Table 4 Characteristics of the databases of crime and perceived safety
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Uittenbogaard, A., Ceccato, V. Safety in Stockholm’s Underground Stations: An Agenda for Action. Eur J Crim Policy Res 20, 73–100 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-013-9212-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-013-9212-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation