Applying Environmental
Criminology to reduce crime and
fear of crime
October 2007
Jamie Eagles, Director of Neighbourhood Development, Shoreditch Trust
PC Paul Daykin, Crime Prevention Design Advisor, Metropolitan Police
Crime Theory
In theory, there is no difference between theory
and practice. But, in practice, there is.
variously attributed to Chuck Reid or Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut
There is nothing so practical as a good theory.
Kurt Lewin
Important Theories
• Crime Pattern Theory
– How do offenders find targets?
– How can we keep offenders from targets?
• Routine Activity Theory
– What are the proximate conditions leading to crime?
– How can we alter them?
• Rational Choice
– How do offenders make decisions?
– How can we influence them?
• Situational Crime Prevention
– What types of prevention are available?
– Which should we apply?
Environmental Criminology
• Traditional Criminology studies the origins of the
offender’s criminal propensity.
• Environmental Criminology studies the other
elements of the criminal event.
• EC stresses the importance of:
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decision making by offenders and others
routine activities
environment imposed constraints
place imposed constraints
situation imposed constraints
• EC assumes that offenders and victims generally
use time and space in a normal (not unique or
pathological) way.
Crime Pattern Theory
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Offenders travel like everyone else
They go no farther than they need to
They find targets in their normal travels
They do not use unusual methods of travel
They try not to travel huge distances
They often do not make special efforts to
find targets
Probability of Target Selection
Routine Activity Theory
When offenders &
targets meet at
places repeatedly
without controllers
crime concentrations
appear.
Crime
Place
Manager
3 Repeat Types:
• Targets/Victims
• Offenders
• Places
A First Cut at Prevention
Remove one of these
elements
Place
Manager
Add one of these controllers
Which of your partners can help with these tasks?
25 Crime Prevention Methods
REDUCE PROVOCATIONS
INCREASE RISK
Extend guardianship
Assist natural surveillance
Reduce anonymity
Use place managers
Strengthen formal surveillance
Reduce stress
Avoid disputes
Reduce emotional arousal
Neutralize peer pressure
Discourage imitation
INCREASE THE EFFORT
Harden targets
Control access to facilities
Screen exits
Deflect offenders
Control tools/weapons
REDUCE REWARDS
Conceal targets
Remove targets
Identify property
Disrupt markets
Deny benefits
REMOVE EXCUSES
Set rules
Post instructions
Alert conscience
Assist compliance
Control alcohol & drugs
Rational Choice
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Offenders make choices like everyone else
Balance of pain & gain, risk & reward, effort & ease.
Fast and frugal “guestimates” will do
Proximate Decision-making
Ends v Means Rationality
Evidence
– Evaluations of situational crime prevention
– Variability in displacement and diffusion of benefits
– Association of offenders with opportunities
Key Shoreditch Trust Interventions:
Infrastructure Change:
• Crime Prevention/Designing out Crime
• Urban Realm Improvements
Locality/Neighbourhood Management:
• Safer Neighbourhood Office
Some Useful resources
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www.securedbydesign.com
http://www.jdi.ucl.ac.uk/
www.popcenter.org
http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/:
– Home Office 251:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors251.pdf
– Home Office 252:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors252.pdf
Contacts
PC Paul Daykin
Crime Prevention Design Advisor
Metropolitan Police
Email: Paul.Daykin2@met.police.uk
Telephone: 0208 217 3344
Jamie Eagles
Director of Neighbourhood Development
Shoreditch Trust
Email: Jamie@Shoreditchtrust.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7324 5104
www.shoreditchtrust.org.uk