Environmental Crime Prevention

Environmental Crime Prevention:

• Environmental crime prevention is influenced by the ideas of Wilson and Kelling's Broken Windows theory

• The right realist approach to crime prevention that looks to eliminate signs of disorder

Broken Windows Theory:

• Broken Windows Theory suggested that the visible signs of neglect and disorder influenced levels of crime

• Areas of high deprivation had higher rates of crime and these had often been underfunded and ignored by the local government

Zero Tolerance policing:

• Environmental crime prevention is linked with zero tolerance policing - moving on homeless, shutting down bars and clubs

• The policy implemented in New York in the 1990s to clean up the streets - tackling street traders, beggars and drug dealing

Environmental Improvement:

• The second feature of environmental crime prevention is tackling signs of disorder - repairing broken windows, removing graffiti, rebuilding communities

• This led to accusations of gentrification making areas unaffordable for people to live in

Research Support:

• Keizer et al (2008) used field experiments to see if people would commit offences in areas of varying appearance

• New York is seen as a model of environmental crime prevention as Kellings acted as an advisor

Evaluations:

• New York crime rates were dropping and additional police were utilised to enforce policy

• Change in the US economy lifted job prospects and made the city more affluent

• Environmental crime prevention is often used in conjunction with situational and community-based efforts

• Crime often displaced to other areas