Become a Problem-Solving Crime Analyst

by Clarke; Ronald

• ISBN13: 9780954560706
• ISBN10: 0954560701
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2003-09-01
• Publisher: Willan

Summary

Crime analysis has become an increasingly important part of policing and crime prevention, and thousands of specialist crime analysts are now employed by police forces worldwide.This is the first book to set out the principles and practice of crime analysis, and is designed to be used both by crime analysts themselves, by those responsible for the training of crime analysts and teaching its principles, and those teaching this subject as part of broader policing and criminal justice courses.The particular focus of this book is on the adoption of a problem solving approach, showing how crime analysis can be used and developed to support a problem oriented policing approach - based on the idea that the police should concentrate on identifying patterns of crime and anticipating crimes rather than just reacting to crimes once they have been committed.In his foreword to this book, Nick Ross, presenter of BBC Crime Watch, argues passionately that crime analysts are 'the new face of policing', and have a crucial part to play in the increasingly sophisticated police response to crime and its approach to crime prevention - 'You are the brains, the expert, the specialist, the boffin.'

Author Biography

John Eck is Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati.

Table of Contents

Prepare yourself

Read this first

Rethink your job

Be the local crime expert

Know the limits of conventional policing

Learn about problem-oriented policing

Become a POP expert

Be true to POP

Be very crime specific

Be guided by SARA - but not led astray!

Study environmental criminology

Use the crime triangle

Never forget opportunity makes the thief

Always 'think thief'

Expect offenders to react negatively

Don't be ground down by the displacement pessimists

Expect diffusion of benefits

Scan for crime problems

Say Cheers! when defining a problem

Know what kind of problem you have

Study the journey to crime

Know how hot spots develop

Learn if the 80-20 rule applies

Analyse in depth

Formulate hypotheses

Diagnose your hot spot

Know when to use high-definition maps

Pay attention to daily and weekly rhythms

Take account of long-term change

Know how to use rates and denominators

Identify risky facilities

Be ready for repeat victimisation

Consider repeat offending

Know which products are CRAVED by thieves

Look for crime facilitators

Check you have answered the five 'W' (and one 'H') questions

Find a practical response

Accept your key role at response

Increase the effort of crime

Increase the risks of crime

Reduce the rewards of crime

Reduce provocations

Remove excuses for crime

Find the owner of the problem

Choose responses likely to be implemented

Assess the impact

Conduct a process evaluation

Know how to use controls

Consider geographical and temporal displacement

Examine displacement to other targets, tactics and crime types

Watch for other offenders moving in

Be alert to unexpected benefits

Expect premature falls in crime

Test for significance

Calculate costs

Communicate effectively

Tell a clear story

Make clear maps

Use simple tables

Use simple figures

Design powerful presentations

Become a good presenter

Contribute to the store of knowledge

Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.