Keys to Success
Several important lessons can be learned from the
promising practices of the last few decades. Programmes
designed to reduce urban crime must: (a)
employ a multisectoral approach to the causes of
crime; (b) include an evaluation of the methodology used;
and (c) have support from the Government to
ensure adequate research, training, financing,
leadership and pilot projects.
A strategy whose components tackle situational,
social and community factors in a simultaneous and
complementary fashion offers higher guarantees of
success. In view of the complexity, variety and
interdependence of the factors associated with
criminal activity, a multidisciplinary approach
(bringing together elected representatives, police
officers, civil servants, and health care, education,
housing and social service professionals and
representatives of community agencies) is essential.
Citizens' commitment at all stages of programme
delivery will be facilitated if they are involved
and the project responds to their needs.
Unlike the prevention of minor delinquency and
crimes against property, the prevention of violence
cannot always show positive results in the very short
term. It is difficult to modify the attitudes and
behaviour of individuals who are already violent.
Many specialists believe that, although interventions
aimed at adolescents are possible and desirable, in
terventions should take place when the subjects are
much younger. Effective prevention of violent crime
requires medium term and long term investment in
young "at risk" children and their families.
It is desirable to assign to crime prevention projects
persons who are able to use analytical and
strategic planning tools as well as to animate multidisciplinary work.
Any prevention project will benefit from being based on the results of actionoriented
research (what the French call a "safety diagnosis"), which involves the following activities:
- Analysis of the characteristics of local
criminal activity
- Identification of the factors generating it
- Enumeration of the costs and benefits of different
ways of tackling these factors
- Deciding on the methods to be adopted, the
people to implement them, the coordination
mechanisms, and a timetable
- Preparation of an adequate budget for implementation of the activities
- Establishment of a process for making a validated cost benefit analysis.
However, cities must be able to rely on the support
of higher levels of Government. Countries in transsition and in
different stages of development will need support from
international agencies. Specifically, cities will need support for the
following functions:
- Observation and analysis of major trends in so
ciety and in criminal activity
- Retrieval and broad distribution of knowledge
on the causes of criminal activity
- Development of the best evaluation methods
- Access to promising practices internationally that
can be adapted to local conditions
- Securing the cooperation of various government
authorities, notably for developing major social
policies and funding their implementation
- Training of participants.
The direct result of successful crime prevention
by cities is the savings it generates for the State.
The reduction of criminal activity reduces the pressure
on courts, police and prison systems. It is only fair
that those who generate the savings, the cities, recover
some of the benefit, especially when money is
required for investment in new prevention measures.
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