NCJ Number
233989
Date Published
January 2005
Length
55 pages
Annotation
This case study examined the Hartlepool Strategic Development Project (SDP) in England in order to describe and examine its processes and outcomes within its local context.
Abstract
The SDP is phase 1 of the country's Reducing Burglary Initiative (RBI), which aims to reduce burglary rates through funding of a variety of projects nationwide. Phase 1 of the RBI provided funding for 63 SDPs throughout the country, all of which had a burglary rate of at least twice the national average. Each project consisted of a number of interventions designed to reduce burglary rates. Projects ranged from improvements in household security to working with offenders individually. This case study examines the pre-existing burglary problem in Hartlepool, describes the interventions, examines how the work was undertaken (including problems encountered and solutions developed), assesses the extent to which the project can claim success, and summarizes key messages and lessons learned. Hartlepool was selected for this case study because it incorporated a variety of interventions and has achieved success in terms of burglary outcomes as well as other program objectives. The case study demonstrates the importance of the local context in determining success of burglary-reduction initiatives as a whole, as well as in considering particular types of intervention. It also emphasizes the critical role of personnel in both management and the implementation of interventions. The interventions included the installation of gates for alleyways behind homes; alleyways had often been the route for burglars entering and leaving victimized residence. A second intervention was "target hardening," which reduced the number of properties subject to repeat victimization. A third intervention was property marking, which was designed to facilitate the recovery of property in the event it was stolen. Other interventions were increased community activities for youth designed to divert them from delinquent activities, the supervision and treatment of offenders, community development, and community education. 25 tables, 7 figures, and appended details on the effects of various interventions