Local ownership is the feeling of care and responsibility that people may have towards areas of land or features in their community. Feelings of local ownership are likely to be higher if people feel they have some stake in the area, and that they will suffer some loss if damage occurs. They will also be higher for projects in which people are involved, either through practical work, fund-raising or other support.
Defensible space describes the area around people’s homes which they feel is theirs, and which they will look after and defend against damage or intrusion. Post war planning in urban areas reduced or removed defensible space for many dwellers in flats and tower blocks, leaving large areas of space for which no-one felt responsible. The move back to terraced houses with small gardens restores defensible space. Local ownership is an extension of this, to areas of land which individuals may not own, but for which they feel a responsibility, and on which they know that their actions can have positive results. Expressions of local ownership may be high in some areas, often from community action led by a few motivated individuals. In other areas, where there is a lack of community interaction, or social breakdown, feelings of local ownership are unlikely to develop.
Where local ownership is lacking, vandalism is likely to occur. Opportunistic vandalism by local young people may be reduced by involving them directly in practical work, but this is by no means a certainty. Some children may plant trees one week, and then vandalise them the next. Also, organised vandalism is increasingly a problem, and may involve people from outside the local area.
Even in the best ordered communities, any feelings of local ownership are unlikely to translate to practical action without keen local individuals to motivate and set an example. Intervening while vandalism is happening is an action which few will be willing to undertake.
