Why are opportunity reduction-based approaches to crime prevention attractive to policy-makers and what are the main problems associated with their theoretical bases and practical implication?

The first 200 words of this essay...

Why are opportunity reduction-based approaches to crime prevention attractive to policy-makers and what are the main problems associated with their theoretical bases and practical implication?

First this essay will explain what is meant by opportunity reduction based approaches (ORBA). It will give reasons why these approaches are attractive to policy makers and link this to a broader political context. The theoretical base will be examined in relation to social construction and also pointing out what crimes this approach doesn't address.

The practical implication of ORBA are analysed such as the problem of displacement and the inequality this highlights. Then finally the uses, abuses and human rights issues regarding certain aspects of the technology associated with this method of crime prevention.

ORBA are part of situational crime prevention which manipulates the environment as a method of trying to prevent crime. Situational research is divided into two measures, (1) increasing the chances of being caught and (2) reducing physical opportunities for crime (Clarke 1980). It is the latter that this essay is primarily concerned with, although the two measures do overlap. For example, installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) will reduce the opportunity for crime and increased the likely