Philip Ingram MBE provides a history and modern-day overview of crime prevention.

The UN Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime states, “Crime Prevention encompasses strategies and measures that seek to reduce the risk of crime occurring and their potential harmful effects on individuals and society, including fear of crime, by intervening to influence its multiple causes.”  

The guidelines go on to say, “Effective prevention requires actors in the justice system to collaborate with those in other sectors to address the root causes of disputes and avert conflict, violence and human rights abuses. In relation to crime and violence, this means that it is necessary to move from punitive measures to evidence-based prevention that reduces levels of violence, particularly against women, children and vulnerable groups. 

It also means that sectors that interact with offenders and victims, such as social workers, prosecution authorities and defence attorneys, should be included in the implementation of prevention programmes, to ensure that communication is effective and that referrals of individual cases to appropriate service providers run smoothly and are in the best interest of the concerned individuals.” 

Crime prevention is nothing new, Daniel Gilling of the University of Plymouth in his paper ‘Combining Situational and Societal Strategies,’ explained how, “The “preventive principle” was an essential legitimating element in the arrival of permanent policing from 1829.”

However, he went on to add, “The emergence of a crime prevention policy in the contemporary sense of the term, what will be called here a “functional” crime prevention policy, is a much more recent phenomenon, which began in Britain in the 1950s.”  

Publicity campaigns 

Describing how Crime prevention policies emerged he wrote, “Returning to more recent times, one begins to see the emergence of a specific crime prevention policy in Britain from 1950 when, according to the Greater London Council (GLC) (1986), the Home Office approached the insurance industry and in concert with them produced the first national publicity campaign, focused mainly on the security of business premises.

“Publicity campaigns have continued to be a major feature of crime prevention policy ever since, including the “lock it or lose it” and “watch out, there’s a thief about” campaigns of the 1970s and the magpie and “crime, together we’ll crack it” launches of the 1980s.” 

Today, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of Merseyside Police is the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead for Prevention and owner of the National Police Prevention Strategy. 

She chairs the Prevention Coordination Committee whose role is to oversee the delivery and implementation of the National Policing Prevention Strategy, providing strategic guidance and direction to deliver ‘set outcomes.’

It leads on the development and commissioning of key pieces of work which support the delivery of the National Policing Prevention Strategy.

These include academic research and evaluation, key products, services and training on behalf of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to influence across policing, government departments, third sector and industry. 

Those ‘set outcomes’ include: 

• Promote cultural change in policing through embedding a preventative approach as a core function of policing. 

• Reduce harm by tackling the root causes, drivers and vulnerabilities associated with victimisation in both the physical and virtual environment. 

• Reduce offending by tackling the causes and opportunities that facilitate offending. 

• Reduce demand through a systematic cost effective, evidence based problem-solving approach. 

However, the aim of the National Policing Prevention Strategy is quite simple. “Fewer victims, fewer offences, and less damage on policing achieved by addressing underlying causes and using partnership-oriented problem-solving.”

This is achieved through national standards being set by the college of policing at one end of the spectrum but also a policy that “all staff are to provide prevention advice as a core function.” Crime prevention is clearly at the core of policing. 

Those National Standards are then turned into actions by every police force across the country.

Complementing the national standards and helping local forces with their own approaches is Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI), a self-funded organisation delivering initiatives nationally. 

Of course, technology plays an important part in crime prevention.

The implementation of CCTV surveillance systems has been a significant advancement in crime prevention capabilities in the United Kingdom.

These systems provide continuous monitoring of public spaces, serving as a powerful deterrent to potential criminal activities.

The presence of CCTV cameras not only deters criminals from engaging in unlawful behaviour but also aids in the identification and apprehension of individuals involved in criminal acts.

Moreover, the strategic placement of these surveillance systems in high-crime areas has further bolstered their effectiveness in preventing and combating crimes.

The availability of recorded footage from these systems also provides valuable evidence for investigations and prosecutions, contributing to the overall security and safety of the public. 

Crime prevention is a crucial aspect of maintaining law and order in the United Kingdom.

Various crime prevention initiatives have been implemented to address the rising concerns and ensure the safety of the public.

These schemes encourage communities to work together and work with the police to provide a holistic approach to crime prevention. 

The foundations laid in 1829 have remained rock solid, highlighting how prevention remains at the core of policing activity.

This article was originally published in the July Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.