Evaluated Options

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Approach

Reasoning / mechanism

Summary of research findings

Increase CCTV coverage

Cameras will either:

  • Deter thieves
  • Aid detection
  • Support successful prosecutions

Can be effective where it is clear what impact the scheme is meant to have, and where the right conditions are in place for the cameras to have the intended effect.

Works best as part of an integrated and evolving package of measures.

(Tilley, 1993)

Secure by design

Crime can be reduced by making it harder and more risky to commit.

Implementing action in a police beat reduced risks by nearly 10%

Home Office Research Findings No 42

Domestic burglary schemes in the safer cities programme.

Ekblom Law and Sutton.(1996)

Greater use of intelligence

To provide the rationale and focus for dedicated squads

Performance was seen to have improved.

Crime Detection &Prevention Series Paper 59. Combating Burglary: An evaluation of three Strategies

.Stockdale and Gresham.(1995)

 

Property marking

To aid in reducing burglary and recovering property.

Evaluation of a successful scheme Laycock (1992)

 

Targeted policing of hotspots

The more precisely patrol presence is concentrated at the ‘hotspots’ the less crime there will be at those places and times.

Crackdowns on identified problems must be followed by appropriate consolidation.

US evidence is that this is an effective strategy for dealing with local problems.

Goldblatt & Lewis

Wright and Pease 1995

Target known offenders

Disrupting offenders’ methods/routines can reduce crimes.

The higher the police arrest rates for high risk offenders the lower the rates of crime.

Targeting repeat offenders appears to be worthwhile.

Goldblatt & Lewis

Recent research indicates that targeting prolific burglars reduced burglaries.

Consolidating Crackdowns: Findings from an anti-burglary project. .Police Research Series 113 Farrell,Chenery and Pease.

Publicity campaigns

Continuous publicity must accompany target hardening to maximise benefit.

Media involvement must be planned carefully and messages continually re-inforced. Tilley and Webb 1994

Targeting the market in stolen goods

Rates of offending/re-offending are influenced by how hard/easy it is to dispose of stolen goods.

Some evidence that difficulties in disposing of stolen property can deter inexperienced thieves in re-offending. Strategies for reducing illicit markets are being tested.

Sutton 1998

Protecting property

 

Dwellings are particularly vulnerable during a change in occupier.

Increased incidence of property crime in both pre-move and post-move periods.

Movers and Breakers;Ellingworth and pease Vol 3 No 1 International Journal of risk,Security and Crime Prevention.

Informant hotlines

 

Rewards, free phone number and anonymity will generate information leading to arrests.

Schemes are in general highly productive in recovering stolen property/successful prosecutions. Clarke & Harris.1992.

More useful in detection than prevention.

Research findings by the Vauxhall Centre for the study of Crime at the University of Luton, indicate that in 63% of cases previously unknown offenders, or those known but not suspected for the case in question were arrested and charged as a result of Crimestoppers information.

Raise public awareness/change behaviour

People can (but often fail to) take simple steps to protect themselves from being victimised.

‘Cocoon watch’ combined with tailored target hardening can prove effective.

General campaigns have limited impact and are unlikely to reduce the overall levels of theft.

Burrows & Heal

Campaigns targeted on vulnerable people/places show more promise.

Forrester, Chatterton and Pease 1988

Repeat victimisation

 

Crime can be reduced by protecting victims from further crime.

A graded response to repeats, including household security improvements is effective.

UK research indicates that this can effect a significant reduction.

Chenery et al, 1997

Anderson Chenery and Pease1995

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