Question

When discussing crime prevention part of the analysis of the reasons for crime are based on the economic and social inequities that are part of our society. It focuses on the root causes of crime; unemployment, racial discrimination, substandard housing, inadequate schools, inconsistent parenting.

There is a school of thought that states that Situational Crime Prevention deals only with the symptoms of crime, not the root causes, and is therefore inadequate as a means of crime prevention.

Is Situational Crime Prevention inadequate in its approach? Why or Why not?

Answer 1

Situational crime prevention is concerned with reducing opportunities for crime, and it is based on the belief that crime can be deterred by strategic changes to the environment.

Several types of SCP approaches have been
sufficiently researched to be confident in their
effectiveness, including CCTV and street
lighting,Crime Prevention through
Environmental Design,target
hardening, and access control.

SCP was deliberately not based on a
theoretical model of criminal behaviour. it has been given a theoretical
basis and incorporated into mainstream
criminology through theories such as rational
choice, routine activity, and crime pattern etc...

Situational crime prevention also focuses on the
fact that crime is highly concentrated in space.
Most places attract virtually no crime, whereas
some places consistently attract a high level of
crime.

Other case studies that suggest situational
crime prevention can be effective include:

• engine immobilisers reducing the theft of
cars
• the introduction of exact change policies on
buses with a tamper-proof moneybox
reducing robberies of bus
• alcohol interlocks on cars reducing the
incidence of drunk driving
• reducing burglaries in terrace.