Classical music piped through speakers has dramatically reduced crime rates in the center of New Zealand’s second largest city, retailers said Monday.
They said the introduction of soothing music from composers such as Mozart had seen the number of anti-social incidents attended by security guards in Christchurch’s City Mall fall from 86 a week in 2008 to two a week this year.
Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale said the music had helped residents and retailers reclaim the mall.
Photo: Epa
“It is much more pleasant now. People sit in that area now because they feel safer,” Lonsdale told the Christchurch Press newspaper.
Police backed the finding, with senior sergeant Gordon Spite telling the newspaper the music “created an environment that is conducive to good behavior.”
Lonsdale said the best anti-crime music blended into the background and had no noticeable beat.
He told Radio NZ the business association had considered playing Barry Manilow through the speakers when it began the program 12 months ago but decided against it as it may drive customers away.(afp)
紐西蘭零售商店業者週一表示,透過有線廣播系統播放古典音樂,使第二大城市中心犯罪率戲劇性地下降。
他們表示,播放類似莫札特的和緩音樂,使得基督城商業中心保全人員必須介入的反社會行為次數,從二零零八年的每週八十六次下降到今年的每週兩次。
市中心商業協會經理保羅‧隆思戴爾表示,播放這種音樂幫助市民與零售商挽救商業中心。
隆思戴爾告訴基督城報紙,「現在狀況令人愉快多了。人們開始在那地方坐下,因為他們覺得比較安全。」
警方也支持這項發現。資深巡佐葛登‧史派特告訴該報,播放古典音樂「創造了有利於良好行為的環境。」
隆思戴爾說,最好的反犯罪音樂能融入背景,且沒有明確的節奏。
他告訴紐西蘭電台說,商業協會原本打算在十二個月前,推出播放巴瑞‧曼尼洛的音樂的計畫,但最後因考慮顧客可能會因此離去而作罷。(法新社/翻譯:吳岱璟)
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