Crime Prevention and Control:
Situational Crime Prevention:
Clarke (1992): Situational Crime Prevention (from here, will be referred to as SCPS). ‘A pre-emptive
approach that relies, not on improving society or its institutions, but simply on reducing
opportunities of crime.’ Directed at specific crimes, involves managing or altering the immediate
environment of the crime, and aims at increasing the effort and risks of crime. (Target Hardening is
one example of this)
This approach is an opportunity or rational choice theory of crime. It contrasts with theories that
stress root causes of crime such as socialisation or poverty. Clarke argues that most theories offer no
realistic solutions to crime.
Felson (2002): Example of a SCPS- Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York. Changing the layout of
the building to prevent rough sleeping.
Chaiken et al (1974): Crackdown on subway robberies in New York merely displace them to the
streets above.
Displacement occurs as SCPS do not reduce crime, they merely displace it. Can take several forms:
Spatial- moving elsewhere to commit crime.
Temporal- committing it at a different time.
Target- choosing a different victim
Tactical- using a different method.
Functional- committing a different type of crime.
Evaluation:
Works to some extent in reducing certain kinds of crime.
Likely to be displacement
Assumes criminals make rational calculations.
Focuses on opportunistic street crime and ignores white collar, corporate and state crime.
Ignores the root causes of crime.
Environmental Crime Prevention:
Based on Wilson and Kelling’s (1982) Broken Windows article. Said article has been describes as
‘perhaps the most influential single article on crime prevention ever written’ (Downes 1999)
They argue leaving broken windows unrepaired and tolerating aggressive begging sends out a signal
that no one cares. Absence of both formal social control and informal control. Without remedial
action, leads to a spiral of decline making the area a magnet for deviants.
They argue a twofold strategy. Environmental Improvement Strategy (repair and upkeep) and Zero
Tolerance Policing. Saw some success in NY through the ‘Clean Car Programme’ and other
programmes that focused on drug dealing and begging. Between 93 and 96, significant fall in crime
(including a 50% drop in the homicide rate).
However, the NYPD had 7000 extra officers, there was a general decline in the crime rate, a rise in
job opportunities, decline in the availability of crack cocaine and the attempted homicide rate
remained high.
Situational Crime Prevention:
Clarke (1992): Situational Crime Prevention (from here, will be referred to as SCPS). ‘A pre-emptive
approach that relies, not on improving society or its institutions, but simply on reducing
opportunities of crime.’ Directed at specific crimes, involves managing or altering the immediate
environment of the crime, and aims at increasing the effort and risks of crime. (Target Hardening is
one example of this)
This approach is an opportunity or rational choice theory of crime. It contrasts with theories that
stress root causes of crime such as socialisation or poverty. Clarke argues that most theories offer no
realistic solutions to crime.
Felson (2002): Example of a SCPS- Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York. Changing the layout of
the building to prevent rough sleeping.
Chaiken et al (1974): Crackdown on subway robberies in New York merely displace them to the
streets above.
Displacement occurs as SCPS do not reduce crime, they merely displace it. Can take several forms:
Spatial- moving elsewhere to commit crime.
Temporal- committing it at a different time.
Target- choosing a different victim
Tactical- using a different method.
Functional- committing a different type of crime.
Evaluation:
Works to some extent in reducing certain kinds of crime.
Likely to be displacement
Assumes criminals make rational calculations.
Focuses on opportunistic street crime and ignores white collar, corporate and state crime.
Ignores the root causes of crime.
Environmental Crime Prevention:
Based on Wilson and Kelling’s (1982) Broken Windows article. Said article has been describes as
‘perhaps the most influential single article on crime prevention ever written’ (Downes 1999)
They argue leaving broken windows unrepaired and tolerating aggressive begging sends out a signal
that no one cares. Absence of both formal social control and informal control. Without remedial
action, leads to a spiral of decline making the area a magnet for deviants.
They argue a twofold strategy. Environmental Improvement Strategy (repair and upkeep) and Zero
Tolerance Policing. Saw some success in NY through the ‘Clean Car Programme’ and other
programmes that focused on drug dealing and begging. Between 93 and 96, significant fall in crime
(including a 50% drop in the homicide rate).
However, the NYPD had 7000 extra officers, there was a general decline in the crime rate, a rise in
job opportunities, decline in the availability of crack cocaine and the attempted homicide rate
remained high.
