Term paper on “Crime reduction”

Crime reduction is similar to crime prevention, although it is directed to active criminals and the crime areas and criminal circumstances. Crime reduction is based mostly on intelligence which thoroughly characterizes those criminals and their crime locations (Criminaljustice, 2007). It focuses on certain features of the criminals, and the causes of their criminal activities. Besides, a researcher of crimes Richard A. Wright emphasizes that, by combining different aspects of criminal activities such as the time, frequency, targets, location and the circumstances of the activity, it will show the way of how to reduce the criminal activity in such locations as inner urban areas (Criminaljustice, 2007). There are three well-known strategies used for crime reduction, considering that the duration and integration of the response is important.

1. Prolific offender management. It deals with the people-oriented strategy which focuses on criminals and violators of law who are convicted for the majority of crimes. According to the British crime survey, more than 15% of criminals are convicted in 50% of crimes in the UK (Home Office, 2010). Nonetheless projects developed by prolific offender managements combine various resources from law enforcement agencies, which are the police force, probation officers and crown courts. There are also health and social services that are brought together in order to provide criminals with services. The final goal of the project it to pay attention to different factors in criminals’ lives which can increase the chances of recommitting a crime in future. The project offers a possibility to effectively react and respond in case of reoffending or relapsing (Criminaljustice, 2007). The Home Office states the following: “More crimes are being detected and brought to justice, and reoffending rates are starting to reduce. But more can be done to reduce reoffending, particularly by the most prolific offenders” (Home Office, 2010).
2. Targeting crime “hot spots”. It focuses mainly on targeting locations and areas with a high level of crime rate, and is first of all a place-oriented strategy. This method is comprised of certain CPTED principles, such as changing travel patterns and encouraging the police to be timely present in the crime location (NCPC, 2003). In urban areas, different kinds of hot spots having different reasons accordingly require different kinds of police reaction. However, crime hot spots in neighbourhoods might be based on people-oriented strategies. Thus, offenders, facing such court order restrictions as ASBO’S may also be regularly monitored by the police in such areas in accordance with various circumstances, leading to the decrease of the level of crimes (Criminaljustice, 2007).
3. Managing major public gatherings. This notion has a number of issues and problems such as public disturbances, fights and intoxications. In this case it is necessary to apply a situational strategy so as to prevent crimes. From the view of crime reduction, the police force, first aid providers, governing officials and many other professionals should ensure the reduction of crime rates. Besides, the management and crime prevention should be organized in a way that will enable fast response to emergencies (Criminaljustice, 2007).