Presentation outline
Introduction
Outline of the International Report 2008…
– Objectives
– Audience
– Data sources
– Structure
… And its Compendium of practices
Content of the International Report 2008
– Conceptual framework: key definitions
– Main results of the thematic analysis
– Main results of the comparative analysis
Conclusion and perspectives
Introduction
The International report is first of its kind at the
international level. It presents:
An overview of the main issues linked to crime, safety and
victimisation in the world and the types of prevention they
elicit
A global picture exclusively dedicated to comprehensive
prevention
What is the International Report?
– An analytical tool of crime prevention strategies
implemented across the world
– An instrument to disseminate the most relevant practices
and policies
– A marker of emerging challenges, published every two
years
Who is the International Report
adressed to?
– Decision-makers in different jurisdictions: cities, regions
and countries
– Professionals and specialised practitioners, non
governmental organisations, and members of civil
society engaged in crime prevention
– International organisations, United Nations’ agencies and
affiliated, developpment banks and donors
– Researchers specialised in crime prevention
What does the International
Report rely on?
- A diversity of data sources:
• Information produced by international and regional bodies
• Information produced by resource centres and specialized networks in crime prevention
• Public information relating to government crime prevention initiatives and policies (national,
regional, local), and from NGOs and community based organisations working on crime
prevention and community safety.
• Scientific literature specifically dedicated to crime prevention and published since 2002.
- The consultation of experts in the field as well as ICPC’s Members
States and Partners all around the world
- The comments of an Editorial Advisory Committee with a diverse
geographical, institutional and disciplinary background.
Obstacles: - Unequal distribution of useful information
- Comparison of disparate or unrelated situations
How is the International Report
structured?
2 main sections:
- A thematic analysis of the main crime and community safety issues,
selected on the basis of their relevance and importance in current debates
on crime prevention and community safety
• Youth Safety, Women’s Safety, School Safety, and Safety in Public Spaces and in
the Context of Major Sports Events
- A comparative analysis of evolving trends in policies and in the
implementation of prevention practices beyond any targeted phenomena
Boxes which provide accounts of concepts, public services,
tools, evaluations, or references in the field of crime prevention
Contributions by international experts shedding light on
specific themes
The Compendium in Brief
The International Report is accompanied by an International
Compendium of 60 Crime Prevention Practices from 30
different countries, which:
- Includes short accounts of what communities can do to
prevent and respond to crime challenges
- Provides a wide array of ideas, and reconfirms the benefits
of processes in relation to strategic and effective crime
prevention
- Is divided into five main thematic sections:
. Aspects of Community Safety, Youth at Risk, Youth Gangs,
Community Safety and Indienous People, Police-Community
Partnerships in Crime Prevention
Key Definitions
Crime Prevention
”Comprises strategies and measures that seek to reduce the
risk of crimes occurring, and their potential harmful effects
on individuals and society, including fear of crime, by
intervening to influence their multiple causes”.
UN Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime 2002
Community Safety
Refers to a sense of well being and the quality of life of a
community or neighbourhood. It also suggests the
collective nature of creating a safe community.
Main results of the thematic analysis (1)
 Despite a global trend towards the stabilization of crime, marked
regional diparities still exist and the impact of social factors on
community safety remain strong
Source: Estimate based on data collected by ICVS (1996-2005), on a basis of 1000 respondents
Source: Estimate based on data collected by the United Nations Survey (1998-2004)
Main results of the thematic analysis (2)
 1/3 to 2/3 of women state having experienced violence in their
life time
Source: International Violence against Women Survey, analysed by Holly Johnson, in International Report 2008
As women’s safety is a global concern these recent years, an
increase in national action plans as well as city-level integrated
strategies has been established.
Main results of the thematic analysis (3)
 Young men aged 15-24 represent the group with the highest
rate of offending and victimisation worldwide. Participative and
integrated approaches are increasingly being recognised and
found to be the mose effective to prevent this duality
Examples in
...Brazil (Grupo Afroreggae, Children’s Hope Space);
...Colombia (El Golbiano-el Juego de la Paz);
...Australia (Chance on Main);
etc...
Main results of the thematic analysis (4)
 If response to school safety is often a punitive one, other factors
are progressively being considered, such as the overall climate
of a school and the importance of the wider community
participation
Examples in
...Portugal (Programme Escholhas);
...Chile (School Mediation among small children, Colegio
Mayor, Municipality of Puente Alto);
...Quebec (Trousse de sensibilisation à l’agression
indirecte);
etc...
Main results of the thematic analysis (5)
 Disorders in public spaces and ”fear of crime” are of greater
concern in many parts of the world. Approaches using a broad
range of social and support actions, as well as urban planning and
revitalization, relying on partnerships and inclusion have prooved
the best results in pacifying actions and relations in public spaces
Examples in
...Argentina (Junta Comunitaria de Seguridad Urbana, Municipality of
Chabas)
... St-Lucia (Community Action Programme for Safety)
...Germany (Fairy Godmother Programme)
...France (Correspondants de nuit)
... South Africa (Pilot project on community dispute resolution and probelmsolving capacity), etc...
Main results of the comparative
analysis (1)
 Crime prevention is now guided by international standards,
is evolving and becoming more widespread
In 1999, ICPC highlighted national crime prevention strategies developed by
9 of its member governments…
…in 2006, 42 countries completed the UN questionnaire of the
implementation of the UN Guidelines on Crime Prevention
Throughout the world, an increasing number of countries
are developing ambitious crime prevention strategies and
action plan
Main results of the comparative
analysis (2)
 Crime prevention is increasingly lead by a trend toward
knowledge-based and evaluation
Evaluation of policies and practices has increasingly become a common
requirement in many part of the world…
Knowledge of intervention environments is reinforced through
systematic approaches (numerous guides, methodologies and tools, eg.
safety audits)
Greater attention is given to “how” projects work on the
field, and not only on “what works”
Main results of the comparative
analysis (3)
 The involvement of public authorities in crime prevention
and community safety is still unequal, but the police are
increasingly focusing on prevention
Throughout the world, the police seem increasingly involved in crime
prevention activites….
…even though their role in the field remain diffuse
Judicial authorities have in some countries a clear role in
prevention…
…while in other they play a mediator function
(eg. Peaceful dispute resolution and mediation
in the Casas de Justicia)
Main results of the comparative
analysis (4)
 Prevention is effective when it takes place at the local
level and uses a comprehensive strategy (eg. Interventions for Youth
at Risk, Women’s Safety, School Safety).
The key role of mayors and local authorities in crime prevention is
acknowledged in quite every part of the world…
… even though support to municipalities remain weak
The need to have crime prevention activities tailored to context and
seen as everyone’s business is increasingly recognized…
…thus the importance of civil society in defining local
safety needs and participating to community safety
Conclusion
1. There is a marked progress in international crime
measurements and prevention standards and norms
2. The criminalisation of behaviours contrasts however with
these international principles
3. The development of integrated prevention strategies
based on concrete experience, especially at the local level,
is increasingly recognised, but remains fragile
4. There is a strong need for training, capacity building and
providing support for practitionners
Perspectives
Overall, this first analysis:
- has confirmed the need to strengthen knowledge on crime
prevention with greater dissemination and exchange
- is a work in progress which will benefit communities
throughout the world
The forthcoming International Report (2010):
- will cover other topics of interests
- will include an additional third section: Evaluation of Crime
Prevention and Community Safety
- will be presented at the 12th UN Congress on Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice, Brazil, April 12-19, 2010