wilson and kelling (1982)

background

the 1970s Safe and Clean Neighbourhoods Program in NJ involved officers walking rather than driving in patrol cars, making the residents feel safer but it didn’t reduce crime

aim

to outline how features of neighbourhoods can influence crime rates, the changing role of the police and strategies for maintaining order

safe neighbourhoods

foot patrol officers improved the level of public order so the fear of disorderly ppl was reduced

officers knew the neighbourhood and vice versa, ensuring disreputable regulars observed informal rules

neglected property shows a breakdown in community control, making many residents wanting to move and leaving the areas vulnerable to crime and disorderliness

broken windows weakens the interaction between ppl and community controls

the changing role of the police

the role of the police changed from maintaining order to one of detecting criminals

society had to decide what constitutes an undesirable person and what behaviours should be criminalised

to ensure police treat ppl fairly, they had training and were under supervision and a program, informal social control and citizen patrol were also introduced

maintaining order

police are key to maintaining order but substantial cuts have been made to officers

some neighbourhood are crime ridden where foot patrols are useless and some are so stable where they are unnecessary

few police departments systematically identify areas that need officers so they need to decided where officers will make the greatest difference

private security guards can be employed to help communities maintain order or tenant organisations can hire off-duty police officers for patrol

patrol officers should be encouraged to use public transport and enforce rules on drinking and disorderly conduct

police should recognise the importance of maintaining communities without broken windows

conclusions

policing focuses on high-crime areas bc police mistakenly think they are judged on ability to fight crime

police ought to protect both individuals and communities

police should focus on the value of maintaining intact communities that don’t have broken windows