Crime Prevention

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Crime Prevention
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Neighbourhood Watch

• The main aim of a neighbourhood watch scheme is
  to create a partnership between the local
  community, the police and the local authority.
  The schemes try to build community relations
  working together with the police to reduce crime,
  fear of crime and improve the quality of life

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• The first scheme was started in 1982, and there
  are now over 160,000 schemes running throughout
  the UK and its the largest voluntary
  organisation in the country

• The main aim is to deter criminals through making
  neighbourhoods less vulnerable

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• Traditional neighbourhood watch activity has
  focused on the immediate vicinity of homes.
  However, more and more schemes are now broadening
  their range of work.

• Local problems such as vandalism and graffiti are
  well within the scope of a well-organised
  neighbourhood watch scheme.

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CCTV

• Closed Circuit Television Cameras became commonly
  used in the UK in the 1980s.
• Originally they were used mainly in car parks,
  shops, public transport, bars etc

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Open Street CCTV

• Glasgow raised public and private sector funding
  for a 32-camera open-street CCTV scheme, which
  became operational in November 1994

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How does it work?

• The main aim of CCTV is to DETER criminals as
  they are aware that they are being watched

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Intervention

• It is also useful for crime intervention
  meaning that if trouble starts then the police
  are able to see what is happening and prevent it
  from getting worse (violence in particular)

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Zero Tolerance

• This was introduced in New York as crime was
  spiralling out of control in some areas
• It was a no nonsense approach to crime which
  aimed to radically reduce crime figures

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Getting Tough

• Zero Tolerance policing in New York cracked down
  on petty crimes the message was that any crime
  would not be tolerated

• According to reports the hard-line scheme did
  have an impact and there was a reduction in
  crime, including crimes involving weapons

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Blair borrows

• When Tony Blair came to power in 1997 he pledged
  to be
• Tough on crime tough on the causes
• In 1998 he announce there would be a Blitz on
  crime based on the New York approach

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Hotspots

• Originally 25 cities including Glasgow were
  identified with high crime rates
• These crimes included burglary, car theft, drug
  related crimes

• Computer software was able to analyse so called
  crime hotspots
• Police then moved into these hotspots and made
  their presence felt with very strict policing