Review Of Related Literature

Review of Related Literature

 What bothers us?

-Personal Safety and security

-Vulnerability to criminality, uneasiness and insecurity about our personal welfares in the society we live in

As Filipinos who have been brought up in the Philippines, members of this team share the same sentiments about the state of personal safety and security we experience. Accounts from friends and family who have had experiences being victimized by theft, robbery, assault and the likes cause a sense of eeriness in the land we call our home. Wandering mendicants, snatchers, pickpockets and hold-uppers are just a few of the entities that threaten our sense of safety and securities, thus making us feel vulnerable to criminality.

This review of related literature helps delve into the root cause of these acts of crimes and understand how these may be addressed in line with governance projects tasked to partner with.

The Oxford dictionary defines crime as an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law. The word crime may be synonymous to illegal activities or actions that are deemed evil, shameful or wrong.

In the paper entitled “Is Poverty the Main Cause of Crime?” written by Susan Thomas, a criminologist at Oxford University argues that an actual definition of the concept of crime is still somewhat contested and ambiguous as diversities in paradigms affected by culture, tradition and religion set different sets of standards. She illustrates the point in the case of moral transgressions such as kissing in public are punishable by incarceration or imprisonment in Dubai; but is accepted in a somehow more liberal society towards public display of love and affection like the Philippines.

The United Nation’s published paper in 2009 entitled, Urban Safety and Poverty in Asia and the Pacific; crime is said to be often defined as a breach of the law. Although not necessarily universal, crime is associated with legal systems, norms, values and are subject to constructs of culture and tradition. Crime may be high in some cities, but this does not necessarily equate to an increased threat to personal safety if contained in a particular area or is directed towards a minority social or ethnic group.

In the very same study, it is pointed out that threats to safety and human security have a growing impact in the Asia-Pacific region ranging in scale and scope from forms of crime such as organized crimes in forms of terrorist attacks, public disturbances and riots driven by ideological tensions, violence in the community and households, forms of abuse, physical and armed assaults, gang activity and the likes. Although crime and safety have universal tendencies that go beyond geographical, social and cultural borders, there still remain local characteristics indigenous to one.

Levels of performance and welfares of cities are affected and greatly influenced by crime and levels of safety. Both crime and degrees of safety influence structures of cities. Development issues that share the growth and dynamics of institutions and livelihoods are subject to violence, safety and security. Cities can only act as engines or economic growth, democratization and social prosperity if those who live in them feel safe to engage in economic, social, cultural and political life (UN-HABITAT 2007a:8).

Both S. Thomas and the study conducted by the United Nations claim that poverty in itself is not a cause of crime or violence. There is no direct correlation between poverty, gender and safety. Studies, however do not debunk that poverty, when coupled with several triggers such as lack of opportunities, inequality, exclusion, availability of drugs and firearms and such becomes an important factor. This means that the impact of crime and safety on people’s capabilities, livelihoods and sources becomes broader. The study conducted by the United Nations gives emphasis on urban dynamics such as employment and economic opportunities; familial, inclusive cultural and social structures; governance and institutional performance can all contribute to safer cities.

Crime may take in the form of violence. The World Health Organization defines violence as the undue and unlawful exercise of physical, emotional and or psychological force. It may derive from personal assault to institutional and structural reforms and is intended to cause or lead to injury or harm. It is therefore substantial to consider the level of people’s fear of violence, which at times maybe higher than the actual recorded cases of violence.

As citizens dwelling under sovereigns ought to protect and govern over safety and welfare, it is but essential to dwell into the issue of safety. Views toward safety and evaluation of one’s own sense of security differ from person to person. UN-HABITAT’s research indicates that people to respond to their sense of safety in relation to how they understand or experience crime and violence. That very understanding or sense of fear shapes the social and economic functioning of cities and the functioning of social interactions. UN defines security as a condition where people enjoy a set of freedoms, from crime and violence, but also from poverty, social, political and cultural systems which affect people’s capabilities to live life to its fullest.

Violence is said to arise due to increasing levels of conflict between governments and the urban poor regarding developments of infrastructure, housing, access to land and environmental policies. Rising costs of land, the integration of urban cities into the global economy and emerging civil societies would create tensions that would further contribute to conflict.

Furthermore, in UN’s study; the relationship between crime, violence, safety and poverty; as previously pointed out belie straightforward cause and effect patterns. Poverty in itself is not a cause of crime or violence. It has no direct relationship to feelings of safety or fear. What is clear from research is that poverty becomes an important factor when coupled with other triggers.  Kusakabe states in his work on Policy Making on Street Vending published in 2006 that there is a significant economic cost when cities are unsafe. Informal sector livelihoods can be negatively affected by the inability to work safely at night,  by petty corruption of local police officers and by policies that seek to sanitize urban space through clean-up campaigns.

In the Philippines, in a published online article entitled The National Association of Criminal Gangs of the Philippines Nationwide in 2009it was taken into account that crimes such as sneaky office intruders who ran sack during breaks, ATM scams where money is trapped or cards are swapped, Zesto, Salisi, Dugo-Dugo and Budol-Budol gangs post threats to safety.

The study conducted by Fajnzylber and others in 2006 illustrates that social exclusions and marginalization both contribute to and result from crime. In many cities, inequality may be the more important determinant and might be necessary to include in the agenda. The existence of informal settlements and the emergence of resettlement sites continue to be distantly located poorly serviced and thus promulgate disassociation, isolation and fragmentation. This may lead to increased family tensions and vulnerabilities. With these in mind, children in these resettlement sites may be denied of education opportunities, or are less likely to attend school. The loss of shelter security sets a rippling effect into household incomes, health, education and such. When due to stresses brought about by poverty due to domestic abuse or deprivation, households may become dysfunctional. This may negatively affect development among the youth and normalizes the concept of violence both within and outside the walls of home. When the youth are denied opportunities and the ability to integrate into society, problems occur. The consequences for not being able to meet such needs give rise to development of youth gangs, prevalence of drug abuse, increasing number of street children and associated health problems (Jones 2008).

As of the end of 2011, in an account by Exploredia Philippine population has reached 94,012,200. About 2.68 million are in Quezon City, 1.6 million in Manila, 1.4 million in Caloocan, 1.36 million in Davao.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) there is a 16.77% decline in crime rates in the Philippines for the first quarter of 2012. “Index crime rates”, which is 61.14% of total crime rate went down by 18.86% according to PNP spokesperson Chief superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. Crime against persons (murder, rape, homicide, physical injuries) had a 20.24% decline. This includes a 4.75% decline in rape cases and in homicide and physical injuries, a decline of 20-25%. Crime against property (theft, robbery, car-napping, cattle-hustling) rates also dropped.

“Based on the 2009 official poverty statistics for the basic sectors, fishermen posted the highest poverty incidence for nine basic sectors in the Philippines at 41.4%, the same level in 2006, followed by farmers and children at poverty incidences of 36.7% from 37.2% in 2006 and 35.1% from 32.7% in 2006, respectively. Poverty Incidences for fishermen, farmers, children, self-employed and unpaid family workers are higher than the poverty incidence among population in the Philippines at 26.5% in 2009.

Poverty incidence for four basic sectors increased between 2006 and 2009: youth and migrant and formal sector workers, both with 1.0 percentage point increases, and children and individuals residing in urban areas, both with 0.3 percentage point increases.(NSCB, 2012)”

There has been a decrease in crime rate since 2009 because of the increase in visibility of police in crime prone areas. In the article “What’s The Real Cause of Crimes in The Philippines?”, it states that illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, etc. influence the presence of crime in the Philippines but the root cause of this is lack of moral values. It is said that most Filipinos do know the difference between right and wrong but they do not have the initiative or will to do the good. “Instilling good character and virtues of self-discipline, integrity and service within the context of a loving family and healthy community structures like schools and churches is the best anti-crime program we all can take part and believe in. (Definitely Filipino, 2012)”

Susan Thomas in her work on the relationship between Poverty and Crime, she quotes Kanazawa who points out that human beings have evolved to compete for resources. These instincts need to be kept under control. The hunting instincts of prehistoric man may be compared to the competitive urges in modern man. These may motivate acquisitive crime.

According to the WHO, violence and crime result from inequality and marginalization and acts to reinforce it. There are concerns over safety and these mean that it is less likely that groups and populations of people will find it a challenge to access resources and services provided for, thus leading to marginalization.

Poverty is indeed not the main cause of criminality, but is a possible driver when triggered or aggravated by feelings of exclusion, marginalization and separation from access to opportunities. This team believes that in line with the sentiments shared in class about safety and security, criminality will be addressed through empowerment, inclusion, motivation and introduction to new opportunities to a better way of life.

Sources:

Carillo, J., Petrella L. et al. Urban Safety and Poverty in Asia and the Pacific. UN-HABITAT. 2009. 22 June 2012.

Thomas, Susan. Is Poverty the main cause of crime?. 

     http://susantthomas.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-poverty-main-cause-of-crime.html. 22 June 2012.

National Statistical Coordination Board. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/d_safety.asp. 23 June 2012.

What’s The Real Cause Of Crimes In The Philippines?

http://definitelyfilipino.com/blog/2012/03/17/whats-the-real-cause-of-crimes-in-the-philippines/

Crime Rate by Area. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/d_safety.asp. 21 June 2012.

Poverty Statistics. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/pressreleases/2012/PR-201206-SS2-01_pov2009.asp. 23 June 2012.

Leones, C. The Current Situation of Crime Associated With Urbanization: Problems Experienced And Countermeasures Initiated In The Philippines. 22 June 2012.