Summary of zero tolerance policing. ZTP acts to neutralise crime (Wilson and Boland, 1978) by targeting anti-social behaviour. Both America and England provide evidence of its success as it results in complete changes in lifestyles in populations

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Summary of Zero tolerance policing

Zero tolerance policing originated in New York under Rudolph Guiliani and William Bratton (1994)(Silverman, 1999) as a response to the severe urban decay and extreme street crime experienced at the time. It is derived from Wilson and Kelling’s (1982) ‘broken windows theory’ that the physical decline of a society has a direct effect on crime: Vandalism, begging, prostitution, ‘squeegee merchants’ all exist without intervention presenting the impression of public disinterest and encouraging more serious crime to flourish. Zero Tolerance policing (ZTP from now on) removes the police constraints and encourages the intervention of these misdemeanours, represses street crime and anti-social behaviour and sequentially reclaims control of public spaces for respectable members of society (Innes, 1999). Both Guiliani and Ray Mallon, of The Cleveland Constabulary, have proven the practical abilities of this type of policing in tackling high crime, but not without extensive criticisms, some of which I will discuss and challenge in this essay along with Pollard’s (1997) ideas that zero tolerance is merely a short term fix resulting in future tensions between the police and communities. I will then go on to show that the legal application of zero tolerance policing actually serves to increase public perception of officials.

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The ‘New York Miracle’ saw a 75% reduction in 7 major crimes (Henry, 2002)since the application of ZTP, which can be attributed to the introduction of 7000 new men, Compstaat (computer system that calculates high crime areas) (Pollard, 1999), and the decline in crack cocaine use. However, it is important to remember that the employment of technology and man power were essential in operating zero tolerance policing successfully as the force was subsequently depleted (Bratton, 1997), and the decline in crack cocaine use can be seen as a direct effect of a lucrative policy at work (Bowling, 1997). Guiliani (1997) ...

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