Green Criminology Flashcards
Why is Green criminology a new and emerging area?
Globalisation
Greater emphasis on environmental pressures and issues
Increase in national and international regulation
Best use of finite resources
What is environmental criminology?
concerned with geographical locations of crime
Examples of environmental pressures…
Increased urbanisation climate change flood risk pollution and sewarage discharges competition for natural resources population growth degraded habitat and biodiversity loss
What are the foundations of green criminology?
- Studies of regulation and disasters (“Making the Law”)
• Single events
• Misconduct by corporations
• Regulation of activities - Legal and social censures (“Breaking the Law”)
• How acts are categorised and responded to
• Criminal/non-criminal boundary (“lawful but awful”) - Social movements and politics (“Social Reaction”)
• Pressure groups
• Political treaties
What is the definition of an environmental crime?
“Any unlawful act that threatens or damages the environment” (EIA, 2008)
What is primary crime?
eg pollution, deforestation
Direct consequence on environment
What is secondary crime?
eg dumping more waste than is allowed
violation of reglatory rules
What is enviornmental risk with a nexus to crime?
Natural disasters lead to further crime
What is anthropocentric harm?
humans have the right to do whatever to enviro as we are superior
What is ecocentric harm?
Humans rely on environment
What is Biocentric?
All species are equal
Environmental risk…?
Nexus of risk, crime and the environment • Allows for the multiple origins of risk • Move beyond “single solutions” • Incorporates animal abuse? / pain • Moral as well as legal rights
What is involved in green criminology?
Green criminology can include:
• Non-compliant or unregulated activities
• Deliberate flouting of the law
… and can involve:
• Local, national and international criminality
• Individuals to multi-national corporations
• Small-scale to serious and organised crime
Who are the offenders?
Many different kinds of crime • Committed for a variety of reasons and motives Varying degrees of: • Organisation • Skills • Knowledge • Different levels of: • Finance • Equipment • Requiring varying numbers and levels of offenders
Illegal logging
20-40% of global wood production estimated to come from illegal sources • Deforestation and forest degradation • Deprives livelihoods and legitimate businesses • Increase flood risk • Climate change (Deforestation accounts 20% of global GHG emissions) • Threatens biodiversity and air quality • Links to armed conflict
What are the issues in relation to victimisation?
- Long term, indirect victims
- Collective or global victimisation
- Lack of self-identification
- Unsure who is responsible
- Victimless crimes
- Rights of the environment and wildlife
Who are Natural Resources Wales?
Countryside Council for Wales • Environment Agency Wales • Forestry Commission Wales • Some functions of Welsh Government • One environment body for protecting and improving the environment in Wales
What do Natural Resources Wales do?
Ensure that Wales’ natural resources are sustainably maintained, used and
enhanced - now and in the future.
• Improve the environmental, economic and social outcomes for Wales through
the wide range of services and responsibilities we have
What responsibilities are included in NRW?
Incidents • Flooding • Illegal Dumping Breaches • Notice not served • Failure to meet site conditions Other non-compliance • Unregistered waste carrier • Failure to register as a producer of packaging
What is an outcome focussed response?
Advise and guide businesses and individuals
• Emphasis on self regulation
• Include good environmental practices in to normal working methods
• Steer and monitor compliance
• Regulate other government agencies
Why might regulation be more a more appropriate response than enforcement?
prevention is better than cure
Why do we enforce?
- Stop an environmental crime from continuing or occurring
- Put right environmental harm or damage
- Bring an environmental crime into compliance
- Punish an offender
- Deter future offending
What are theories?
- Problem-Orientated Policing
- Broken Windows theory
- Crime Pattern theory
- Situational Crime Prevention
- Routine Activities theory
- Rational Choice theory
- Crime as opportunity
Traditional v Modern Enforcement
- Reactive v Proactive
- Gut Feeling v Evidence Base
- Chase Individual Crimes v Target Highest Risk
- Prosecution & Punishment v Partnerships & Prevention
