Generating Ideas
Generating ideas on tackling repeat victimisation need to take account of the particular
features of the repeat victimisation pattern. These tell us that:
The strategy should address the need to protect victims (people and places)
as well as targeting offenders;
Prevention effort should be put in place for victims after the first
crime;
The intensity of intervention should reflect the level of risk; less costly
interventions can be used for those at less risk, while more ‘expensive’ interventions
can be saved for those at higher risk;
Information about unreported crimes and incidents should inform the risk assessment;
Those already repeatedly victimised are at higher risk of being a victim again
than, for example, a first time victim, and therefore need particular attention;
In the case of burglary, prevention effort should also be put in place for
nearby dwellings (same side of street factor);
Prevention effort should be put in place quickly but may be withdrawn after
the high-risk period, if no further crime has taken place.
Generating ideas can also be helped by going through the generic list of interventions
set out under ‘Interventions’ in the Conjunction of Criminal Opportunity Sections.
(Insert hypertext link to Conjunction of Criminal Opportunity Section)
Any strategy needs to address:
How to make victims less attractive to offenders;
How to discourage an offender, and;
How to ensure the presence of suitable capable guardians
To prevent crime, you need to take action to affect at least one of these conditions*.
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What is a Capable Guardian?
The first two on the above list are familiar; the idea of a capable guardian may
be less so. A capable guardian can be defined as:
Someone or something other than the victim that is able to keep a watchful eye
on a potential victim and may also act as a deterrent to offenders. Examples could
include:
Neighbourhood Watch;
Provision of two-way pendant alarms to victims of racial attacks, domestic
violence and bogus callers;
Industrial estates employing security officers;
Family, friends and neighbours of victims of racial attacks and domestic violence
Patrolling police officers;
Car parks monitored by CCTV;
Training Home Carer Staff in basic crime prevention skills
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*Adapted from Routine Activity Theory developed by Marcus Felson
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