Introduction to Crime Prevention and Community Safety

The question of how best to prevent crime is one that is frequently posed by criminologists, governments and the general public, with significant resources invested in the long- and short-term pursuit of crime reduction. This introductory unit provides students with a foundational critical understanding of the theory and practice of crime prevention. The unit will introduce crime prevention as an alternative to law and order and elucidate the evidence for prevention. The unit will outline key typologies in crime prevention, debate the promises and limitations of a community safety approach, and examine the role of police, politicians and policymakers in prevention. Students who complete this unit can expect to have a strong grounding in the basics of crime prevention as a springboard for further study and in their professional practice.