Day IHistorical Perspectives and Contemporary Challenges
The ICPC’s Deputy Director Daniel Sansfaçon briefly summarized crime prevention history from the 1970s to the present, noting in particular the evolution of the knowledge base and its reliance on research (e.g. the Sherman report), the evolution of city support mechanisms, and the trend towards more integration and balance in crime prevention programmes. Daniel then addressed contemporary challenges, including governance and sustainability issues, and using of knowledge to inform programmes and policies. He stressed how crime prevention contributes to the governance of community safety rather than the governance of internal safety. 
Margaret Shaw, ICPC’s Director of Analysis and Exchange provided an in-depth look at the development of the United Nations Guidelines, starting with the Economic and Social Commission’s 1995 Guidelines for Co-operation and Technical Assistance in the field of Urban Crime Prevention, and the subsequent evolution of related standards and norms. Margaret also noted the achievements of the 10th United Nations Congress Workshop on Community Involvement in Crime Prevention (2000) and its resulting Declaration, as well as the 2001 Expert Group meeting and the resulting 2002 Economic and Social Committee Guidelines for the Prevention of Crimes. Participants were also given a sneak peak at the 2005 UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Bangkok, Thailand. The next section of the discussion examined how to use the political power and legitimacy embodied by the guidelines to develop and implement good practice that link international, national and local governments, NGOs and civil society. Margaret concluded her discussion with an examination of the broader benefits of international co-operation, as well as its challenges.
International Standards and Strategies.
The first presentation was given by Irvin Waller, professor at the University of Ottawa’s Criminology Department and ICPC’s former Director General. Irvin set out an impressive case for crime prevention and outlined a compendium of resources where effective guidelines and strategies can be found. UN guidelines for crime prevention were discussed, as well as major reports from Australia, Canada, England/Wales, United States and the United Nations. He also showed examples of how schools, local government and police have joined together to find solutions for the multiple causes of crime, in Canada, France and the UK. Country-wide institutional frameworks to maintain crime prevention were examined for Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Canada, and a spotlight was given to organisations that successfully work the crime prevention/ social development nexus in France, the UK, the United States and Canada.
The second presentation was given by ICPC’s Margaret Shaw. Margaret examined the changing definitions of crime prevention, how it differs from crime reduction, and how crime reduction in turn differs from community safety. Crime prevention strategy was examined through a three pronged typology:
(1) crime prevention through law enforcement and criminal justice,
(2) situational and environmental approaches, and
(3) social and community interventions.
Discussion on strategy then switched to the macro level, examining different crime prevention models being applied in England, Wales, Canada, the United States, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. On a level much closer to the ground, the emergence of the profession of the Community Safety Officer was examined, followed by a comprehensive introduction to challenges being faced by field practitioners, academics, researchers and policy makers.
Links:
Economic and Social Commission’s 1995 Guidelines for Co-operation and Technical Assistance in the field of Urban Crime Prevention.
2000 Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice : Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century
2002 United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime
2005 UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
University of Ottawa Criminology Department
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