Topic 5: Crime Prevention Application

Question 1

What is situational crime prevention?

Answer 1

A way of preventing crime by changing aspects of the enviroment to reduce opportunity and make it easier to get caught.

Question 2

What is situational crime prevention strategies based on?

Answer 2

Newman’s concept of defensible space and Rational Choice Theory.

Question 3

Define Rational Choice Theory

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

What are the three core principles of situational crime prevention?

Answer 4

Target hardening, creating defensible spaces and increasing risk of detection.

Question 5

What is target hardening?

Answer 5

An technique used to reduce the benefit a crime can bring to an individual by making the crime harder and less attractive to do.

Question 6

Examples of Target Hardening.

Answer 6

Installing bike locks or car-immoblisation systems, removing cash targets by using electronic payments.

Question 7

What is a criticism of target hardening?

Answer 7

Displacement of Crime can take place which means criminals may switch their target. e.g. identity fraud to commit theft.

Question 8

Explain the idea of a defensible space as a strategy to prevent crime.

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

According to Poyner and Webb, what did they find concerning vandalism and theft?

Answer 9

When entry phones, fences and electronic access to buildings were introduced to a housing estate, the reports of vandalism and theft decreased significantly.

Question 10

How does increasing the risk of detection help to prevent crime?

Answer 10

It acts as a deterrant for criminals as it makes it easier for them to get caught.

Question 11

How can we increase the risk of detection?

Answer 11

Installing Neighboroughood Watch Programme, using CCTV in public settings, improved street lighting.

Question 12

What were the case studies regarding situational crime prevention about?

Answer 12

Alley-gating in Liverpool and Biting Back in Huddersfield

Question 13

What is the issue surrounding alleyways in Liverpool?

Answer 13

There was poor lighting, hardly any surveillance and no definite ownership which means that crime is likely to take place in alleyways.

Question 14

What are alley-gates?

Answer 14

Lockable gates restricted access to alleyways to local residents only.

Question 15

How were alley-gates effective in Liverpool?

Answer 15

3,000 gates were installed which protected 1,134 houses. 37% drop in burglary rates (around 875 burglaries prevented).

Question 16

What was the Biting Back program?

Answer 16

A program designed to prevent the repetition of domestic burglary and car theft against the same victim.

Question 17

Why was the Biting Back program introduced?

Answer 17

Introduced to be a part of the Police Operations Against Crime Initiative in Huddersfield, England.

Question 18

Which core principles did the Biting Back Program use?

Answer 18

Target Hardening and Increasing the risk of detection.

Question 19

How was the Biting Back Program implemented?

Answer 19

Police identified repeat victims and offered them support according to their experience. There were 3 levels of support offered.

Question 20

Give examples of support given at each level in the Biting Back Program.

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Alongside the leveled support system, what else was being done to educate about crime prevention and victim support?

Answer 21

Crime Prevention Officers, data analysts, and victim liaison officers would work with the local community.

Question 22

What was the outcome of the project completed in Huddersfield?

Answer 22

• 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.

Question 23

What is are two criticisms of the case studies of situational crime prevention?

Answer 23

• 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.