Analysing Causes: A Checklist

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Information sources

1.    Profile of offenders

Are crimes the work of many or a few prolific offenders?

Do offender profiles point to common factors, e.g.

  • Age

  • School exclusion

  • School underachievement

  • Lack of skills

  • Other offences

  • Organised criminal networks

What evidence is there that crimes are drug-related?

How do offenders become involved? 

Do offenders live locally or are they travelling to the area to commit crime?

Do recovery rates suggest that offenders are opportunists/ professionals?

If crime is for monetary gain, who are the sources for illicit trading?

 

  • Police

  • Youth Offending Teams

  • Probation service

  • Arrest referral scheme

  • Drug Action Teams

  • Social Services

  • Schools

  • Education Authorities

  • Trading Standards

  • Trade magazines

 

2.    Targets

What makes vehicles attractive to thieves? (e.g. stereo system, laptops etc on seat) 

What security features do vehicles involved possess? 

What makes victims particularly vulnerable?

 

  • Police

  • Youth Offending Teams

  • Probation service

  • Manufacturers (security features)

 

3.   Physical environment

What features of crime hotspots make them attractive and accessible for thieves? 

Are vehicles left in vulnerable locations / a vulnerable condition? 

What opportunities are there for surveillance?

 

  • Police

  • Youth Offending Teams

  • Probation service

  • Car park managers/operators

  • Local residents/businesses

  • Local planners

 

4.    Social environment

Is there an absence of 'crime preventors'?  - people or organisations, either formal or informal who can influence the offender in advance of the event, intervene during the event or react afterwards

Is there an environment of 'crime promoters' - either knowingly or unwittingly e.g. supplying tools or knowledge, providing outlets for goods, peer pressure

What are the markets for stolen goods?  How are goods disposed of?

Community facilities - routine of use of shops, leisure and entertainment facilities; 'street' routine e.g. traffic, commuters, local services  - creating opportunity for crime 

 

  • Police

  • Traffic wardens

  • Trading Standards

  • AA, RAC, Retail Motor Industry Federation

  • Fleet operators

  • Retailers, second-hand markets

  • Vehicle repair/salvage industry

 

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