NCJ Number
58491
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 31-38
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE NATURE, EXTENT, COST, AND CONSEQUENCES OF VANDALISM IN GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA, THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THE METHODS USED TO COMBAT THE CRIME AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE GROWING PROBLEM.
Abstract
UNDER THE CRIMINAL LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES, VANDALS WILL USUALLY BE DEALT WITH UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL DAMAGE ACT OF 1971, WHICH PROVIDES SANCTIONS AGAINST DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. IN THE UNITED STATES, STATE LAWS VARY WIDELY IN THEIR SCOPE, STRUCTURE, AND IN RELATION TO FINES AND PUNISHMENT FOR VANDALISM. ALTHOUGH VANDALISM COVERS A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, FROM DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY TO INDIFFERENT TREATMENT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS GLASS BREAKAGE, PARTICULARLY IN SCHOOLS. A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF VANDALISM IN THE U.S. APPROACHES $1 BILLION PER YEAR, WITH ONLY ONE IN THREE CASES OF VANDALISM EVER REPORTED. SCHOOLS ARE THE MOST FREQUENT VICTIMS; A DAMAGE COST OF $600 MILLION IN 1976 WAS MORE THAN WAS SPENT ON TEXTBOOKS. METHODS EMPLOYED IN THE U.S. AND GREAT BRITAIN TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM INCLUDE THE USE OF ANTIVANDAL MATERIALS AND FITTINGS, SUCH AS PLASTIC GLASS SUBSTITUTES (TO PREVENT BREAKAGE OF SCHOOL AND BUS WINDOWS), FIBERGLASS SEATS, CHEMICAL COATINGS ON SURFACES (TO DETER THE GRAFFITI ARTIST), STREET MURAL PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL LIGHT FITTINGS MADE OF GLASS SUBSTITUTES. IN ADDITION, ALARM SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN MOST LARGE AMERICAN CITY SCHOOLS TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN IN GREAT BRITAIN. PRIVATE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SPECIAL POLICE UNITS HAVE GROWN IN THE FACE OF INCREASING VANDALISM. TOUGH, LOCAL ORDINANCES, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ARE HELPING TO REDUCE THE VANDALISM RATE. IN ENGLAND, A FARM WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE CENTER OF LONDON'S URBAN SPRAWL CAUSING VANDALISM TO PLUMMET IN THE HOUSING PROJECTS SURROUNDING THE FARM AND INSPIRING 20 OTHER PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. FINALLY, POSSIBLE APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEM ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THE ACCEPTANCE OF VANDALISM AS INEVITABLE, PERSUASION OF VANDALS TO ATTACK SUBSTITUTE TARGETS, PROTECTION OF PROPERTY AND DETECTION OF OFFENDERS, THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A BETTER DETECTION RATE AND IMPOSITION OF STIFFER SENTENCES, PREVENTION OF THE SOCIAL BASIS FOR THE CRIME, AND EDUCATION OF POTENTIAL OFFENDERS AND THE COMMUNITY. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)