If it's not broken, what fixed it?
12:50pm Wednesday, 23rd July 2008
If you take a look at Daniel Finkelstein's latest article today, you'll see that he's claiming that falling crime rates are due to the 'get tough' approach of Michael Howard, influenced by the zero -tolerance approach of NY Police Commissioner William Bratton and 'broken windows' theory.
But I think Daniel's assertion is wrong. In America there is plenty of debate as to whether zero tolerance policing was the key factor in the fall in NY's crime rate. Even James Kelling, the originator of broken windows theory, dismisses zero-tolerance as a misunderstanding of his original argument.
As this article examines what actually seems to be effective is an increased police presence and a joined-up approach to preventing crime that also deals with social and economic factors.
Looks like it was holistic government what done it.
But I think Daniel's assertion is wrong. In America there is plenty of debate as to whether zero tolerance policing was the key factor in the fall in NY's crime rate. Even James Kelling, the originator of broken windows theory, dismisses zero-tolerance as a misunderstanding of his original argument.
As this article examines what actually seems to be effective is an increased police presence and a joined-up approach to preventing crime that also deals with social and economic factors.
Looks like it was holistic government what done it.
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