Crime Prevention (social) Flashcards
1
Q
crime prevention
A
an attempt to reduce crime through preventative strategies including removing opportunities for criminals to offend
2
Q
Newham-defensible space
A
- is a place perceived to belong to a particular person or group.
- in communal areas such as high rise flats often related crime such as drug dealing, graffiti etc. this is because it doesn’t belong to a particular person so residents feel less responsible for these areas.
- also due to fact that there is a high, often changing population in a small space it makes it difficult to identify criminals.
3
Q
background - newham-defensible space
A
- in 1970’s, Oscar Newham became interested in why so many housing developments were ‘failing’.
- he conducted an experiment comparing two different ‘projects’ in New York, both with similar population densities, with different layouts - one high rise flats (van dyke) and other series of walk up buildings (Brownsville).
- Brownsville built around courtyard
- Newman set up a smaller experiment within main experiment, residents in van dyke closed and locked their doors and turned their TVs up. conversely in Brownville, researchers were questioned before they could even set the tape up.
4
Q
defensible space
A
van dykes set up has large proportions of indefensible space.
as residents do not feel directly responsible for them, they are vulnerable.
5
Q
features of defensible space
A
- zone of territorial influence - fences or hedges should be used to indicate border between public and private space
- opportunities for surveillance - windows overlooking entrances to make it easy to spot intruders
- image - high rise buildings lack individuality. regular maintenance needed to increases identification and pride
- milieu - refers to the surroundings - make most of location.
6
Q
newman + franck
A
additionally found positive correlation between building size and fear of criminal activity and actual criminal activity.
found less sociable people are satisfied overall with neighbourhood when there is little to no defensible space .
7
Q
broken windows
A
- 1969
- Zimbardo conducted experiment by abandoning 2 cars in different neighbourhoods one in poor area of new York and the other in California
- removed number plates. left bonnets open and recorded what happened.
within ten mins in poor area of New York people started stealing car parts, after 3 days all financial aspect was gone and people started smashing windows for fun - California nothing happened even after a week later, Zimbardo then started to damaged car and a passerby’s joined in.
8
Q
broken windows results
A
from this study Wilson and Kelling created ‘broken window theory’.
if window remains broken, vandals soon break more windows and from their crime escalates because broken window sends signal that no one is taking care of the
property and therefore likely to be no consequences to breaking more windows.
The broken window is a metaphor for behavioural norms of the community.
9
Q
zero tolerance policies
A
- where all types of crime, including minor crimes such as begging + graffiti are dealt with the same way as serious offences.
- done to demonstrate police confidence and authority.
- It was estimated zero tolerance policing prevented 60,000 violent crimes = 5% reduction.
- Between 1990 + 2009 murder rate reduced 82% in New York.
- to enforce approach, 7000 more police officers had to be recruited!
10
Q
Evidence for the use of zero-tolerance policies
A
- Dennis & Mallon trained police officers in UK to implement similar strategy.
- Officers asked to show understanding to those with mental health, ignore “high spiritedness”, never ignore anti-social behaviour, + address low level offenders face to face.
- crime rates reduced by 27% over two years,
- However, Pollard suggests that short term benefits may not last, policies may encourage officers to be heavy handed, alienate communities. can only be effective when other services are also effective
11
Q
aim of Wilson + Kelling
A
- aim of article is to outline how features of neighbourhoods can influence crime rates, the changing role of the police and crime strategies for maintaining order
12
Q
what 3 sections is the article broken down into
A
- safe neighbourhoods
- the changing role of the police
- maintaining order
13
Q
- safe neighbourhoods
A
- foot-patrol officers in the safe + clean neighbourhoods program aimed to reduce fear of crime and increase public order
- foot-patrol officers began to know regulars and who were strangers
- they monitored strangers and reminded the regulars of the rules
- informal rules were made by regulars and supported + maintained by police officers.
- links to broken window theory - if people don’t care, a breakdown of community controls occur + friendly neighbourhood become unwelcoming.
- what once was a low level crime escalates as unreported
14
Q
- the changing role of police
A
- role shifted from order-maintenance to law enforcement - detecting + apprehending
- society demands ‘undesirable’ people are removed
- decriminalising disruptive behaviour, which harms no-one, is a mistake as it removes power the police have to sanction the behaviour and maintain order
- in order for fairness, police must receive training + supervision - however recourses are stretched
- W+K suggest to have minimal police involvement + employ citizen patrol
15
Q
- maintaining order
A
- police have final responsibility in maintaining order
- police cuts make it difficult to have officers in all neighbourhoods.
- some places crime is so continuous that foot-patrol isn’t effective at level offered however others crime is non-existent so not needed
- chiefs must work out where to focus resources and have departments systematically review areas and deploy resources accordingly.
- stop any crime before it happens to reduce it happening again and escalating
- W+K suggests to hire security or off-duty police officers, encourage police officers to always use public transport + enforce rules, and that police should recognise importance of protecting communities + not just individuals
