Local Government and crime prevention

Abstract

Local government has a role in preventing crime. Crime and disorder problems need to be understood in their local contexts and strategies need thus to be locally tailored. Local government can be a catalyst for change and a vehicle for the establishment of partnerships with other key agencies. Through its role in local planning, environmental management, economic development, urban design, and community service provision, local government is close to the community and influences many of the things that matter to determining how people live. The paper outlines procedures for Local Government to design out crime and demonstrates how local crime mapping can contribute to crime prevention.