Introduction

Crime prevention is an effective approach to reducing crime.

It is internationally recognised as an important component of a national approach to building viable communities.

Evidence from several countries (Including Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and United States) shows that implementing and sustaining effective and efficient crime prevention programs can contribute significantly to the achievement of safe and secure societies by reducing the level of crime.

Well-planned interventions can prevent crime and victimisation, promote community safety and make a significant contribution to the sustainable
development of vibrant communities.

programs purpose

Crime prevention includes ‘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’ (source: United Nations Economic and Social Council – ECOSOC) https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/home 

These measures can be implemented by individuals, communities, businesses, nongovernment organisations and all levels of government, to target the various individual, social and environmental factors that increase the risk of crime, disorder and victimisation.

Strategies include those that modify the physical environment to reduce the opportunities for crime to occur (environmental approaches), and those that address the underlying social and economic causes of crime and limit the supply of motivated offenders (social and structural approaches).

Crime Prevention Importance

Crime prevention can reduce the long term costs associated with the criminal justice system and the costs of crime, both economic and social, and can achieve a significant return on investment in terms of savings
in justice, welfare, health care, and the protection of social and human capital.

A safe and secure society is an important foundation for the delivery of other key services.

Community safety and security is a prerequisite for sound economic growth through continuing business investment as well as community well-being and cohesion.

International experience has shown that effective crime prevention can both maintain and reinforce the social cohesion of communities and assist them to act collectively to improve their quality of life.

Methods & Techniques

The techniques and effectiveness of crime prevention continue to improve.

The international trend is towards a comprehensive approach to crime prevention, and there is a growing recognition of the characteristics of effective programs that must be adapted to specific circumstances.

The use of a knowledge-based approach to developing policies and programs, particularly in terms of using reliable evidence about both crime problems and effective responses, has markedly improved, but there is still room to do better.

The prevention of crime requires individuals, communities, businesses, non-government organisations and all levels of government to work together in a coordinated way to develop and implement effective strategies to address the short and longer-term causes of crime.