Preventing Crime Using Babies' Faces - as part of the news series by GeoBeats.
Could images of babies help reduce the crime rate? Some store owners in South East London are hoping so.
The riots during the summer of 2011 led an ad agency to conduct the experiment, called Babies of the Borough. It is based upon study which “suggests that babies' faces, the round cheeks and the big eyes, promote a caring response in human beings.”
As the shop shutters close along the street, a gallery of painted children decorates the backdrop. All the images are of local children painted by a group of graffiti artists.
Other attempts to reduce crime in urban areas have taken on some interesting methods. Some areas of London have installed pink lighting that apparently draws attention to acne in hopes of discouraging teenagers from loitering in specific areas.
In the 1990’s, Montreal, Canada successfully introduced using classical music in trying to deter rowdy crowds from forming.
The Babies of the Bourough’s project is hoping that their trial will yield successful results.
Do you think it will work?