Burglary
Reducing Burglary Initiative: early findings on burglary reduction
This document is published for archival/historical purposes. It will not be updated.
The first round of the Reducing Burglary Initiative (RBI), launched in 1999, funded 63 Strategic Development Projects (SDPs). One of the key aims of the RBI was to find out what burglary reduction strategies work best where. The SDPs were encouraged to develop innovative burglary reduction strategies. As a result, a wide range of interventions was implemented in a variety of contexts. Some early findings on burglary reduction in the SDP areas are discussed in this report. The decline in burglary in 55 of these areas has been compared with other 'reference'/comparison areas.
Title: Reducing Burglary Initiative: early findings on burglary reduction
Authors: Jenny Kodz and Ken Pease
Series: Home Office Findings 204
Number of pages: 4
Date published: June 2003
Key points
Burglary rates fell in 40 of the 55 SDP areas (relative to the comparison areas)
In the 21 months after the launch of the Reducing Burglary Initiative, burglaries fell in the 55 SDPs by 20% compared with a pre-project period. The net reduction in burglaries was 7% in the SDP areas, when taking into account burglary reduction in comparison areas .
This analysis suggests that 2,700 fewer burglaries took place in these SDP areas than would have been expected, between April 1999 and December 2000.
Of the 55 SDPs analysed, 15 achieved a 20% or more reduction in burglary relative to the comparison area; a further 13 saw a relative reduction of between 10% and 20%. However, 15 of the projects saw a relative increase in burglary.
The report discusses the scale of the decrease in burglary, whether these decreases were due to the SDPs, and the lessons learned in the following areas:
Anticipatory benefits
Amount spent per household and speed of implementation
Displacement of crime
Identifying the nature of the burglary problem
Implementation problems
Monitoring progress and taking remedial action
Effective burglary reduction measures
The report finishes with four examples of successful SDPs
SDP Area | Intervention | Project management / success factors |
|---|---|---|
Rochdale -37% | Publicity campaign, target hardening households of victims of burglary, homewatch schemes to increase community involvement and drug arrest referral system to help tackle re-offending. | Jointly led by a full time police officer and a local authority community safety officer. SDP complemented and built on existing partnership activity. Publicity leaflets translated into three languages. Non-uniformed police more successful delivering crime prevention messages within the community. |
Fordbridge, Solihull -12% | Target hardening vulnerable properties, installing alley-gates and street lighting. Implementing youth diversion schemes such as improving local leisure facilities. | Jointly led by police and local authority housing department. Local councillors, senior representatives of the police and council, and members of the community were also involved. Previous successful partnership activity between local authority and police. Complementary package of interventions . |
Yew Tree, Sandwell -47% | Police crackdown: targeting known offenders, e.g., through anti-social behaviour orders and high visibility policing, followed by consolidation activity including property marking, environmental improvements and youth diversion initiatives. | Police led project. Experienced, enthusiastic project management. Police crackdown resulted in quick wins, consolidated by longer term community based interventions. Police interventions helped improve public confidence. |
Stirchley, Birmingham 5% increase but -46% when burglary in 2000 compared with 1998 | Alley-gating, fencing at rear of properties, property marking and newsletter distributed to residents. | Led by police, steering group included probation service, local authority and residents. The police officer who worked with the project manager provided consistency, continuity, dedication and a good relationship with local residents. Difficulties were overcome when installing alley-gates on private land. |
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Last update: Wednesday, August 27, 2008