The 6 key drivers of crime:
Opportunity- it’s the removing or designing out opportunities to offend, either offline and
online
The reason why opportunity is the key that drives crime because evidence that crime increases
when there are more opportunities to offend, and falls when the number of opportunities is
reduced. This does not mean everyone will commit crime if they believe they can get away with
it. Some people will never commit certain crimes, regardless of the situation (see Character
chapter). But for some people and some crimes, studies show that the degree of opportunity
can make a big difference to the number of offences committed. That means crime can be
prevented by removing the opportunity to commit it.
Character- Its intervening early with those exposed to factors that might lead to a high
propensity to commit crime
One of the most important findings in criminology is that a small minority of people commit the
majority of crimes. ‘Opportunity’ plays its part - given a tempting target and little chance of
being caught, some individuals will commit a crime, and some will do so over and over again.
But for most types of crime, most of us simply wouldn’t consider breaking the law to be an
option, however clear the opportunity. Why do some people become criminals, while others –
often from the same neighborhood or even the same family do not. The latest research
suggests that what this strategy terms `character’ is an important part of the explanation.
One way this could be stopped and improved is by developing positive interactions between
the police and young people, for example through the Volunteer Police Cadets. Police Cadet
schemes are typically based in community settings rather than schools, with a specific emphasis
on deprived areas. As a result, they tend to reflect the diversity of those communities, and help
to build positive links between those communities and the police. Cadets undertake a number
of roles assisting the community, including crime prevention, and receive training which helps
to build their confidence.
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