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Crime and Science

Crime and Science . Gloria Laycock Professor of Crime Science University College London . Crime and Science: Agenda. Our view of science and its relation to crime control Some key facts about crime - revision of earlier presentations

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Crime and Science

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  1. Crime and Science Gloria Laycock Professor of Crime Science University College London

  2. Crime and Science: Agenda • Our view of science and its relation to crime control • Some key facts about crime - revision of earlier presentations • Why we think crime and science are linked, with some examples • Brief summary

  3. What is crime science? An analogy – medical science • Is about keeping us well or making us better when we get ill • Researches specific medical problems, medical treatments for particular conditions, and the means of averting particular medical problems • Draws on a range of disciplines

  4. What is crime science? • Draws on sociology, psychology, geography, economics, and criminology, as well as the physical and computer sciences to deliver a reduction in crime • Researches the problems that lead to crime, identifies the specifics of the problem, how they can be averted • Similarly draws on a range of disciplines

  5. What is crime science? • It is a discipline, and not just a technique or methodology, or explained by one single theory • Its focus: • is on outcomes • the determination to reduce crime • drawing from a wide range of constituent disciplines • Its methodologies • Are scientific - embracing the standards and values of the natural sciences

  6. Science is about….. data logic evidence rationality testing hypotheses establishing knowledge

  7. The Role of Science in Crime • Improving our understanding of crime and its causes • Making crimes more difficult to commit • Catching offenders more quickly and bringing them to justice • Thinking scientifically – i.e. testing hypotheses

  8. Our current dominant response to crime • Invokes the law and the supporting infrastructure of the Criminal Justice System • Police, courts, prisons, probation/corrections, community service etc • WHY? • Because we consistently try to attribute blame when we discuss crime control • We see crime as a characteristic of the individual • Hoping the Criminal Justice System will successfully deal with it

  9. If we think about prevention we talk of the ‘causes of crime’ and we look at: • Deprivation and poverty • Unemployment • Poor education • Poor parenting • Drugs and alcohol And try to tackle these to address the crime problem • The most significant and universal cause of crime is opportunity

  10. Nick Tilley’s thought experiment: • If there were no opportunities to commit, would there still be crime? • Can the same be said for the other causes? • E.g. If there was no poverty, would there still be crime?

  11. In Summary so far: • Lots of people offend, • but do not do it for that long • what they do is not that serious • We can not rely upon the supporting infrastructure of the CJS to control and reduce crime • CJS does have a vital role • making clear the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour • Delivering retribution, justice and protection • But is not sufficient as a method for controlling and reducing crime • The risk factors can contribute to crime, but they can be very hard and less immediate to change, and in a civilised society we should be doing our best on these anyway

  12. So what do we need to do instead to reduce crime? • Need to behave in a more objective and scientific manner • We need to prevent as many offences as possible in the first place • We need to catch offenders more effectively and more reliably, and deal with them efficiently once caught • We need to avoid overestimating the importance of individuals character traits and not underestimate the importance of situation and context

  13. Some examples of approaching crime in this way: • Testing hypotheses • Using theory

  14. Theft of vehicles by time of the day 00.00 12.00 23.59 Testing hypotheses: place and problem solving analysis Camden, London • Problem analysis of vehicle crime Camden “We think it relates mainly to local residents having their cars stolen at night” (The Police) • Analysis involves breaking the problem apart and exploring the specifics of the crime problem • We have a series of questions that we can turn into hypotheses

  15. VictimsTheft of vehicles Camden victims (58%) Non-Camden victims (42%)

  16. Type of vehicles stolen

  17. Cars Motorbikes Scooters and mopeds

  18. Theft of vehicles by time of the day 00.00 12.00 23.59 Place:space and time

  19. Clerkenwell hotspot

  20. USING THEORY: Routine Activity Theory Crime is the product of the routine activities of everyday life. This is so for both offenders and victims. There are three necessary conditions for most crime – a suitable victim, a motivated offender and the absence of a capable guardian.

  21. CRIME Routine Activity Theory Likely offenders Suitable targets Capable guardians

  22. Personal Robbery Trend in a London Borough

  23. Scanning • Ealing’s robbery problems can be divided into six principal but overlapping categories: • Youth offending • Pedal cycle offending • Offending involving drink • Knife enabled offending • Offending on buses

  24. Personal Robbery Victim Trend 335 more victims aged 16 years and under in 2006 than 2005 – an increase of 84.4%

  25. Time of Offending Time of offending is very different for youths and adults – this would appear to support the hypothesis that they are two distinct crime problems

  26. Location of Offending 16 and Unders hotspot 17 and Overs hotspot Ealing Broadway is of more concern for young victims than for older victims – it is a considerable transport hub. The Park Royal Leisure Centre is of greater concern for younger victims. East Acton, West Ealing and Acton High street are of greater concern for over-17s.

  27. Geography of Offences The ‘routine activities’ of school aged children are different during the week compared to weekends. Routine activity theory: a crime occurs when a likely offender and vulnerable victim are together in the absence of a capable guardian

  28. Weekday v Weekend Offences Secondary School Map comparing the locations of personal robbery offences on victims aged 16 years and under during the week and at the weekends

  29. Temporal Analysis

  30. Summary I have: • described crime science and suggested that it is a useful way to approach the control of crime • argued that to control crime we need to pay attention to the immediate situation and the opportunity structures that support it • given two examples of approaching crime in this way • Hope I have persuaded you that this approach has lots to offer!

  31. www.jdi.ucl.ac.uk

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