Criminal Psychology - Topic 5: Crime Prevention

Question 1

Key Research - Wilson and Kelling (4)

Answer 1

Wilson and Kelling used an article published in The Atlantic Online reviewing the role of the police in neighbourhood safety.

1. The first part of the article focuses on Safe Neighbourhoods:

• Many individuals are frightened by crime and disruption and so the police presence on the streets in the Safe and Clean Neighbourhoods Program reduced this fear and increased public order. They did this by ensuring that disreputable regular stuck to the rules such as alcohol being kept in a bag and no begging at the bus stop.

2. This comes from Zimbardo’s Broken Window theory which states if a broken window is left unrepaired eventually all the windows will be broken as it signifies no-one cares which fits with Wilson and Kelling as they believed that if the small level crime is permitted then it will grow into larger scale crime.

• Through further study Zimbardo concluded that all areas are vulnerable to criminal invasion as a car left in both the Bronx and Palo Alto will both eventually be vandalised.

3. Wilson and Kelling also looked at the changing role of the police.

• The role of the police has shifted from maintaining order to apprehending and detecting criminals.

4. Finally Wilson and Kelling wrote about maintaining order and strategies to help this such as employing private security guards or off duty police to enforce rules on smoking and drinking.

Question 2

Strategies

Answer 2

Defensible space – Oscar Newman

Zero tolerance – Kelling and Sousa

Broken windows – Zimbardo

Foot patrol – Wilson and Kelling

Question 3

Background

Answer 3

Zero Tolerance

• Address all criminal acts to prevent escalation (nip it in the bud)
• Police should be confident to tackle even the lowest level crime (eg littering)
• Low level crime tackled with low intensity, humane methods. Aim to create an environment inhospitable to more crime

Kelling and Sousa found that by recruiting 7000 new officers and engaging with the community.

They found that serious crime dropped by 5% and for every 28 misdemeanour arrests there was one less serious crime in the neighbourhood in New York