The Difference in The Level of Sense of Security Before and After the Smart City Concept in Solution of Crime Issues in George Town, Penang

Abstract

The application of the Smart City concept is a smart solution to crime in the present day after various efforts have been implemented to improve the safety of the city's citizens. This concept is used now because it can reduce crime cases and can increase the sense of security of the city's citizens using applications and smart technology developed by the administration. The pandemic that hit the world in 2019 has further boosted the use of technology in society's lives until now. Thus, this study aims to examine the difference in the level of safety before the existence of the Smart City concept and after the existence of the Smart City concept in solving crime issues in George Town. The difference in the level of security is very important in this study because it can evaluate the difference in the effectiveness of this concept. The mixed method applied in this study involves questionnaire instruments and in-depth interviews. Questionnaires were distributed to 400 respondents consisting of traders, residents of the surrounding area, as well as employees working in the city, while 10 people were interviewed in depth using purposive sampling involving traders, authorities such as the Penang City Council and the Police. The study found that there was a more positive difference in the sense of security where respondents showed a higher sense of security after the concept of smart city. Thus, the study can prove that the application of the smart city concept that is currently being developed in the solution of crime issues shows a positive change because it can reduce crime cases and increase the sense of security of George Town smart city citizens.