A short history of crime prevention in Australia

Abstract

This article provides an overview and assessment, since 1997, of the "New Labour" government's reforms and policies of crime prevention and community safety in England and Wales. It reviews developments since the Crime and Disorder Act, 1998, and assesses the impact of the government's Crime Reduction Strategy and its campaign against antisocial behavior. The argument is that, in its zeal to reduce crime through its "modernization" agenda, applied to public service delivery, and the consequent emphasis on performance in the reduction of crime, the government is neglecting the institution-building task of constituting a new security governance in the community. This neglect may have led to a rise in insecurity in society, fostered by a heightened anxiety about disorder. This trend seems set to continue with the government's approach to police reform. And although an emergent agenda of "civil renewal" holds out some promise for policies that recognize the role of citizens in the co-production of community safety, there are also dangers of reinforcing the insecurity of the disadvantaged, who have limited access to the social capital required for participation.