Green Criminology

Question 1

Why is Green criminology a new and emerging area?

Answer 1

Globalisation
Greater emphasis on environmental pressures and issues
Increase in national and international regulation
Best use of finite resources

Question 2

What is environmental criminology?

Answer 2

concerned with geographical locations of crime

Question 3

Examples of environmental pressures…

Answer 3

Increased urbanisation
climate change
flood risk
pollution and sewarage discharges
competition for natural resources
population growth
degraded habitat and biodiversity loss

Question 4

What are the foundations of green criminology?

Answer 4

1. Studies of regulation and disasters (“Making the Law”)
   • Single events
   • Misconduct by corporations
   • Regulation of activities
2. Legal and social censures (“Breaking the Law”)
   • How acts are categorised and responded to
   • Criminal/non-criminal boundary (“lawful but awful”)
3. Social movements and politics (“Social Reaction”)
   • Pressure groups
   • Political treaties

Question 5

What is the definition of an environmental crime?

Answer 5

“Any unlawful act that threatens or damages the environment” (EIA, 2008)

Question 6

What is primary crime?

Answer 6

eg pollution, deforestation

Direct consequence on environment

Question 7

What is secondary crime?

Answer 7

eg dumping more waste than is allowed

violation of reglatory rules

Question 8

What is enviornmental risk with a nexus to crime?

Answer 8

Natural disasters lead to further crime

Question 9

What is anthropocentric harm?

Answer 9

humans have the right to do whatever to enviro as we are superior

Question 10

What is ecocentric harm?

Answer 10

Humans rely on environment

Question 11

What is Biocentric?

Answer 11

All species are equal

Question 12

Environmental risk…?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is involved in green criminology?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Who are the offenders?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Illegal logging

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What are the issues in relation to victimisation?

Answer 16

• Long term, indirect victims
• Collective or global victimisation
• Lack of self-identification
• Unsure who is responsible
• Victimless crimes
• Rights of the environment and wildlife

Question 17

Who are Natural Resources Wales?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What do Natural Resources Wales do?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What responsibilities are included in NRW?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is an outcome focussed response?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Why might regulation be more a more appropriate response than enforcement?

Answer 21

prevention is better than cure

Question 22

Why do we enforce?

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

What are theories?

Answer 23

• Problem-Orientated Policing
• Broken Windows theory
• Crime Pattern theory
• Situational Crime Prevention
• Routine Activities theory
• Rational Choice theory
• Crime as opportunity

Question 24

Traditional v Modern Enforcement

Answer 24

• Reactive v Proactive
• Gut Feeling v Evidence Base
• Chase Individual Crimes v Target Highest Risk
• Prosecution & Punishment v Partnerships & Prevention

Question 25

Where is the evidence?

Answer 25

• People and company data, land ownership
• Police National Computer and UK, Europol and Interpol data
• Vehicle and insurance data
• Telephony data
• Ability to seize vehicles and enter sites

Question 26

How does rational choice theory work when applied to illegally carrying waste?

Answer 26

Risk
• Fines are small
• Few roadside checks
Reward
• Cheap overheads
• Lucrative market
Effort
• Flexible working hours
• Low skill base / minimal training
• Design of vehicles
Excuses
• Low awareness of Duty of Care
• No value in having a licence