Implementing Crime Prevention

Abstract

Situational crime prevention is increasingly proving its worth in crime control, but crime rates in many countries continue to rise. Existing small-scale, but effective, measures should be more widely duplicated. There is a need at all levels to identify mechanisms that will lead to more widespread implementation of situational approaches. Legislative mandates and publicity exhortation can be used, but the demonstration to those with the authority to act that situational measures result in cost savings may be more effective. A prerequisite of such a demonstration is the availability of good data and their analysis. This points to a considerable training task and the need to introduce criminological theory and good research and evaluation practice to those with the authority and responsibility to take action against crime.