Whilst you may not have heard of the theory of crime displacement, you could well be using something as simple as a ‘Beware of the Dog’ sign (when you don’t have a dog) with the idea of getting that burglar who was eyeing up your home to move on to less risky pastures.
Of course there are more ‘high tech’ ways to ‘displace’ the criminal fraternity, things like CCTV cameras (dummy or otherwise), RING doorbells, Intruder alarm systems (or again a dummy box), but none of them are as powerful as a sign saying that these premises are protected by a Security company like Wye Security Solutions.
There are many reasons why this is the case, one of the more powerful being that anyone breaking into a premises does not really know when the next mobile patrol is going to come by and inspect all is well. If you then combine this with the fact that this mobile patrol will be carried out by a burly security guard, someone you don’t really want to get on the wrong side of, and you can see why many a potential thief will look elsewhere.
The sad fact is that communities worldwide are having to grapple with the complexities of maintaining safety and order, something not easy to achieve in an open Western democratic country.
The concept of crime displacement is when you look at it quite simple to understand, only falling down when every homr of business practices the art, as then quite simply you cannot displace the criminal as there is nowhere for them to go.
However, even in these security minded times, the vast majority of premises are not utilising this methodology, thus allowing anyone who wants to embrace the idea to benefit from the known advantages the theory brings.
At its core, crime displacement addresses the phenomenon where criminal activities shift from one location to another, often as a direct result of targeted law enforcement or community interventions. Understanding how crime displacement works and recognising its implications are crucial for developing effective policies and strategies to combat crime comprehensively, ensuring a safer environment for all.
Understanding Crime Displacement
Definition and Types of Crime Displacement
Crime displacement occurs when criminal activities relocate due to crime prevention initiatives. It manifests in various forms:
- Temporal: Offenders alter the timing of their crimes.
- Spatial: Criminals move from one location to another.
- Target: The focus shifts from one type of target to another.
- Tactical: Changes in the methods used to commit crimes.
- Offense: A switch from one type of crime to another.
As you can imagine, most burglars tend to work when there is no one in the premises or when the occupants are liable to be asleep. Therefore the first of these forms is unlikely to be affected by one of the crime displacement practices described above.
But, having your premises protected by a Security Company could well cause the other forms to be triggered. For example, the criminal may well decide to attack an unprotected business, or even change the type of business they prey on when all are protected.
They may also shift the ways they attack and the crime that they commit, an example of both being the reduction of armed robberies and the increase of online fraud and cyber attacks, something which of course means that a business must also ensure its Computers are protected.
More Examples of Crime Displacement
An example of spatial displacement includes criminals shifting activities to areas without surveillance like CCTV. Temporal displacement might be observed when crime rates increase during different times due to heightened security at other times. Tactical changes occur when criminals adapt to overcome new security measures, such as finding new ways to bypass electronic security systems. Target displacement can be seen when thieves switch from stealing cars to bicycles due to increased car security. Finally, offense displacement is evident when criminals, deterred from one crime type, may engage in another, such as moving from burglary to vandalism.
How to Benefit from Crime Displacement
Advantages for Property Owners and Businesses
Understanding crime displacement can bring significant benefits to just about any business or home owner, it allowing them to select which system they will use, or maybe a combination of many.
An example of this is a business that installs CCTV and an alarm system, and has them monitored by a third party. Combine this with the services of a security guard company that will dispatch a team as soon as suspicious activity is noticed or an alarm triggered and you have the very best you can get.
Such a combination of systems is much cheaper and far more effective than having a 24hr Guard on the premises, something that is just not practical for anything other than the biggest of companies.
Conclusion
At then end of the day, what you are trying to achieve is the protection of your business, assets like stock, vehicles and fuel tanks, or simply your own home. What you want is peace of mind, which when you think about it, is not that much to ask.
Hopefully you will now explain what crime displacement is and how it can be achieved without having to spend the earth (A simple sign that you are protected by Wye Security could well be enough). We have also unpacked the multifaceted nature of how and why criminal activities migrate across different domains—be it through changes in timing, location, targets, tactics, or types of offences.
FAQs
1. What is crime displacement and how does it occur?
Crime displacement refers to the shift of criminal activities from one location to another, often as a direct result of law enforcement and crime prevention strategies. This phenomenon can arise not only from problem-oriented policing but also from various other law enforcement tactics and societal changes.
2. What are the advantages of implementing crime prevention strategies?
Crime prevention strategies offer numerous benefits, including enhanced safety and security for communities, reduced fear of crime among citizens, decreased economic and social costs related to crime, and an overall improvement in the quality of life for individuals and families.
3. What are the benefits of situational crime prevention?
Situational crime prevention is designed to make crimes more difficult to commit or less rewarding by increasing the risks for offenders and reducing potential rewards. This approach may involve limiting access to targets or increasing surveillance and protection measures, effectively deterring criminal activities by altering the environment in which they could occur.