The Flaws of Cutting Crime - Coursework Example

The Flaws of ‘Cutting Crime’ Introduction When Theresa May coherently stated that the purpose of the police in the UK was to “...cut crime, no more and no less...” (May, 2011), most considered this a sound resolution and politically accurate. Upon further reflection, and from a criminological point of view, this statement is flawed for many reasons. Namely, it assumes that crime is the sole responsibility of police and unless actions or preventative measure are a direct response to crime, then all other police actions are secondary and perhaps even unimportant. Cutting crime is undoubtedly a critically important responsibility of police. However, to say in the latter part of her statement, that no more or no less is required, is negligent and irresponsible at best. To separate criminal responsibilities, we must first define crime. According to the Oxford Dictionary, crime is “an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law.” (Oxford, 2013) When Theresa May outlined that the primary responsibility of the police was to cut crime, she suggested that they react to the breach of public law. Currently, numerous police responsibilities exist outside the field of law infraction. Take for example a lost child. Would one hesitate to inform the police that your child was lost or missing because it was not categorized as a crime? There are certainly countless examples of non-crime related situations where police action is vital. However, in this paper, I will focus specifically on preventative measures that do not fall under May's “cutting crime” strategy. Many criminologists and current police employees look on the move from ‘social worker’ police to ‘crime fighting’ police favourably. In many ways I agree with May's position, that the role of policing should be that of dealing with offences that cause or have potential to cause public harm or disturbance. However, the police role cannot be solely limited to this. If we analyse the social disorganization theory, we can immediately find that there is more to cutting crime than the reaction of said crime. The key here is preventative measures. The social disorganization theory states, “A person’s physical and social environments are primarily responsible for the behavioural choices that person makes.” (criminology.wikia.com, 2013). Meaning that the nature in which the individual is surrounded by and exposed to, highly determines if they will commit a crime in the future. A neighbourhood that is suffering from high dropouts rates from secondary educational institutions, lacking social structures, poor social programs and infrastructure, is more likely to have high crime rates. Add to the formula, the strain theory – which states that although many people have similar goals and objectives, not all have the same opportunities or abilities. (www.socialscience.stow.ac.uk , 2013). In other words, crime might be a quick means to an end, as the opportunities and abilities are not within the individual’s grasp. Both of these theories explain as to why preventative measures should hold importance in policing. A study in The United States, conducted in 2008, showed that 68 percent of prison inmates did not have a high school diploma and a further study showed that students who attended a pre-kindergarten program increased their high school graduation rate by as much as 44 percent. (School Library Journal.com, 2008). It is most definitely not police responsibility to monitor and encourage students to complete their education. Rather, this study points out the pre-conditions, many times, years prior, that leads up to offenders committing crime. The argument could be said that the police's responsibility is to focus and deal specifically in fighting and responding to crime. Yet, closely analysing the strain and the social disorganization theory, we can see that the source of crime develops much earlier than can be anticipated. More preventative and sociological positions are needed by the police. Attention needs to be directed at the root of the problem as much as at the problem itself. When discussing weather or not cutting crime should be the sole responsibility of police, we firstly need to ask ourselves, what are the police for? By answering this question, we in turn answer what their responsibilities should be. Robert Peel famously once said “The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.” (Magna Carta Plus, 1855). Taking into account the statistics of the last two decades, we notice that recorded crime has fallen and policing has become more efficient. However, we cannot solely attribute the reduction in crime to policing efforts. After all, the same drop in crime has taken place in all western, developed countries, irrespective of policing policies. Rather, it might have more to do with social programs, improvement and easier access to education, more economical opportunities, and crime preventative measures. To be clear, effective policing is not about the absence of crime, but rather the absence of fear in the public's mind. A few days after May's speech, several chief constables warned that neighbourhood policing would have to be cut. This action itself demonstrates the flaws of 'cutting crime'. It might be allowing constables to dedicate their time fighting more pressing crime, but it is not reassuring the public's level of fear of crime. The police reform might be more about cutting government expenditure and less about the most effective method of keeping its citizens safe. It certainly was one of the focal points – discussing how the new reforms would save in excess of 150 million pounds a year. Theresa May's statement sounds catchy and straight to the point. But, is it really what the public wants from their guardians? No more and no less? The answer would be no, but the basis in this reality needs to be understood. Although it is right to not demand that highly trained police officers spend their days responding to noise pollution calls and monitoring littering in the park. More social, preventative actions are clearly required in order to continue the current trend of minimizing crime rate. When Theresa May revealed the changes in police focus and said, “It isn't a 30-point plan.” (May, 2011), she might have been oversimplifying a very complex issue – an issue that should be considered by all citizens: how can we prevent having to cut crime itself? References Crime [Def. 1]. Oxford Dictionary Online. Retrieved on Aug 7, 2013 from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/crime Crimonology Wiki (2013). Social Disorganization Theroy. Retreived Aug 7, 2013 from http://criminology.com/Social_Disorganization_Theory Easton, M. (2011). What do we value about the police? Retrieved Aug 7, 2013 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13962538. The Home Office. (2011). New approach to fighting crime. Retrieved Aug 7, 2013 from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/97825/new-approach-fighting-crim.pdf. Magna Carta Plus. (2002). A history of the nine principles of policing. Retrieved Aug 7, 2013 from http://www.magnacartaplus.org/briefing/nine-police_principles.htm. May, T. (2011). Police reform: Theresa May’s speech to the national policing conference. Retrieved Aug 7, 2013 from https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ police-reform-theresa-mays-speech-to-the-national-policing-conference. Social Science Journalistic Group. Criminology: Strain theory. Retreived on Aug 7, 2013 from http://socialscience.stow.ac.uk/criminology/criminology_notes/strain_theory.htm Student Library Journal. (2013). Crime linked to dropout rates. Retrieved Aug 7, 2013 from http:www.sij.com/2008/08/students/crime-linked-to-dropout-rates-report-says. Read More