NCJ Number
204139
Journal
Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: 2004 Pages: 43-52
Editor(s)
Rob Mawby
Date Published
2004
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the controlling of situational and environmental variables to reduce or prevent alcohol-related crime in and around licensed premises.
Abstract
Crimes of disorder and violence in and around licensed drinking environments have become an issue of increasing concern. While it is clear that alcohol is a factor in a proportion of criminal activity, the extent to which alcohol causes crime is unclear. Research points to no one single measure that will alleviate the problem of alcohol-related crime. However, it is evident that a range of strategies can be successfully employed at the local level to address the increasingly worrisome issue of alcohol-related violence associated with licensed premises. This paper reviews the research literature and presents a summary of situational, social and environmental factors that can be influenced to help prevent and reduce alcohol-related crime, and the available mechanisms to operationalize these tools. The paper begins first by examining the relationship between alcohol and violence which has been extensively studied and then proceeds to a description of various tools and approaches to minimize or contain problems of violence in and around the licensed drinking environment, specifically situational and environmental prevention. Crime reduction models for alcohol-related crime involving, but not limited to accords, safety action projects, and crime and disorder partnerships are discussed. However, with any crime prevention strategy, sustained effect is crucial to long-term success. It is increasingly evident that the problems associated with alcohol and licensed premises are not likely to dissipate, so there is a need for greater vigilance and scrutiny of these problems and potential interventions are necessary. 1 Table, 1 note, references