Topic 5: Crime Prevention Application Flashcards
What is situational crime prevention?
A way of preventing crime by changing aspects of the enviroment to reduce opportunity and make it easier to get caught.
What is situational crime prevention strategies based on?
Newman’s concept of defensible space and Rational Choice Theory.
Define Rational Choice Theory
The idea that individuals think before they commit a crime and that they are motivated by the action having a good outcome for themselves and their likelihood of being caught.
What are the three core principles of situational crime prevention?
Target hardening, creating defensible spaces and increasing risk of detection.
What is target hardening?
An technique used to reduce the benefit a crime can bring to an individual by making the crime harder and less attractive to do.
Examples of Target Hardening.
Installing bike locks or car-immoblisation systems, removing cash targets by using electronic payments.
What is a criticism of target hardening?
Displacement of Crime can take place which means criminals may switch their target. e.g. identity fraud to commit theft.
Explain the idea of a defensible space as a strategy to prevent crime.
A defensible space means a controlled area. If committing a crime in one of these spaces, it would increase the risk of the criminal being caught.
According to Poyner and Webb, what did they find concerning vandalism and theft?
When entry phones, fences and electronic access to buildings were introduced to a housing estate, the reports of vandalism and theft decreased significantly.
How does increasing the risk of detection help to prevent crime?
It acts as a deterrant for criminals as it makes it easier for them to get caught.
How can we increase the risk of detection?
Installing Neighboroughood Watch Programme, using CCTV in public settings, improved street lighting.
What were the case studies regarding situational crime prevention about?
Alley-gating in Liverpool and Biting Back in Huddersfield
What is the issue surrounding alleyways in Liverpool?
There was poor lighting, hardly any surveillance and no definite ownership which means that crime is likely to take place in alleyways.
What are alley-gates?
Lockable gates restricted access to alleyways to local residents only.
How were alley-gates effective in Liverpool?
3,000 gates were installed which protected 1,134 houses. 37% drop in burglary rates (around 875 burglaries prevented).
What was the Biting Back program?
A program designed to prevent the repetition of domestic burglary and car theft against the same victim.
Why was the Biting Back program introduced?
Introduced to be a part of the Police Operations Against Crime Initiative in Huddersfield, England.
Which core principles did the Biting Back Program use?
Target Hardening and Increasing the risk of detection.
How was the Biting Back Program implemented?
Police identified repeat victims and offered them support according to their experience. There were 3 levels of support offered.
Give examples of support given at each level in the Biting Back Program.
Bronze (Level 1) - Personalised letter to the victims, discount vouchers for security equipment.
Silver (Level 2) - Visit from a Crime Prevention Officer and police watch visits.
Gold (Level 3) - increased police watches, and alarm installations.
Alongside the leveled support system, what else was being done to educate about crime prevention and victim support?
Crime Prevention Officers, data analysts, and victim liaison officers would work with the local community.
What was the outcome of the project completed in Huddersfield?
- Domestic burglary fell by 30% and Car thefts by 20%.
- Decrease in levels of repeat domestic burglary.
- No evidence to say that burglary was displaced and not prevented.
What is are two criticisms of the case studies of situational crime prevention?
- It fails to deal with the underlying causes of crime which are the motives and behavior of offenders.
- The program relies heavily on the help of the community.
