The Impact of Design and Placement of ATM Deployments on Perceived Safety in India

IntroductionAutomated Teller Machines (ATMs) offer their customers, a quick and convenient way to withdraw money and make simple transactions. Since they process both money and personally identifiable data, ATMs are considered as high-risk facilities. ATMs were designed to add convenience and be beneficial to users. However, since funds could be accessed virtually any time and any place, safety got traded for convenience (Scott, 2001). Criminals find ATMs as convenience stores of cash and are attracted if environmental condition also enhances the opportunity to successfully complete their misconduct (Lewis, 1992). Security strategies implemented currently generally include CCTV surveillance, verification of transactions, biometric cash point dispensers etc. Little importance is being given to how the physical environment can affect an ordinary user's experience. This study, attempts to examine the impact of factors like visibility, lighting, access control, target hardening, surrounding land use and zoning on the fear of crime perceived by a user of the ATM.Literature ReviewATM Related Crimes and the EnvironmentSince an ATM processes financial transactions in the absence of human cashiers, they attract offenders because they seemingly provide direct access to currency, and users' personal information. The different types of ATM attacks include cyber-attacks, ATM replenishment attacks, ram raids, ATM burglaries, robberies and pick-pocketing (Weight, September 2009). In addition to being a threat to personal security, these crimes also pose a threat to both banks and the government. Studies and scientific innovations mostly address issues of violent crimes like ram-raiding, skimming and even cyber-attacks. However, the theft of personal data and pick pocketing in or around ATMs often remain as concerns for the common man. This ever present danger of pick pocketing, robbery, distraction theft and shoulder surfing frequently get overlooked.The Crime Triangle is a postulate that suggests that crime results when three factors come together in space and time - likely offenders, suitable targets and the absence of capable guardians (Cohen & Felson, 1979). Studies of crimes at ATMs call attention to the importance of location of the deployment since they act as a 'host' to the crime (Scott, 2001). The physical environment therefore can have the effect of reducing, eliminating or even enhancing the opportunities of crime. This focus on environmental factors to provide a comprehensive explanation to crime is also observed in Crime Pattern Theory (Brantingham & Brantingham, 1981). These approaches highlight the role of form and layout of the physical surrounding in reducing the opportunity for crime and can provide a simple solution to most forms of ATM attacks.Importance of Design and Placement of ATMsA study of literature reveals that large volumes of mobile, attractive and weakly guarded targets tend to attract criminals and enhance crime. Also, building designs, orientations and street layouts can also form crime generators, crime attractors and crime detractors and can either increase or decrease the opportunities for crime at a location (Kinney et al., 2008; Cozens & May 2009). Further, the presence of 'crime generators' like banks, bars, restaurants, schools and vacant buildings, tend to affect the distribution and pattern of street robberies (Bernasco & Block, 2011). It can thus be inferred that ATM deployments themselves tend to alter the character of public spaces by being thriving points of activity. These highlight the importance of ATM placement.ATMs were initially placed only inside bank premises. However, today, they are seen at airports, grocery stores, petrol stations, commercial complexes, shopping malls, along sidewalks, temporary venues of entertainment and even disaster sites. Based on their type, variety, installation method and placement, ATM deployments can be classified into the following categories - Purpose Built Standalone Sites (Kiosk), dedicated ATM rooms within a larger building, adapted ATM rooms within a larger building, ATMs installed on glazed shop facades and freestanding ATMs (Weight, September 2009). …