Situational Crime Prevention, Crime Mapping and Geographic Profiling for Ellison Street, Lancashire

This portfolio assesses Ellison Street security status and gives recommendations on how to prevent crimes in the future. It includes crime risk assessment, application of environmental criminology, effect of crime on Ellison Street residents, strategies of crime prevention and recommendations.

Portfolio on the Situational Crime Prevention, Crime Mapping and Geographic Profiling
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Portfolio on the Situational Crime Prevention, Crime Mapping and Geographic Profiling
for Ellison Street, Lancashire
Introduction
Safety and security are the key rights of every citizen of any country in the world. It is the
responsibility of the state to provide its citizens with enough security and protection. Crime has
many negative effects in the society. It is the reason why economic growth is hampered, and
citizens of a country are obsessed with fear and instability. Places that are affected with crime
cannot develop socially and are not environmentally sustainable (Wortley & Townsley 2016).
Social life and business activity is greatly affected in areas where crime is prevalent.
Environmental criminology is a theory that holds that crime is influenced by an individual’s
immediate environment (Ainsworth 2013). The foundational principles of this theory argue that
the personal attributes of an individual may influence them to commit crimes. The concept of
crime has a strong correlation to the concept of sustainable communities since criminal activities
can also be prevalent in the following aspects: environmental, social and economic. These are the
three basic foundations of sustainability in the society.
The phrase, “prevention is better than cure is more applicable in security more than in any other
application.” It is always more wise to prevent a crime than to redress it. This must involve a n
environmental design. This means seeking for crime prevention through design. This particular
portfolio assesses Ellison Street security status and gives recommendations on how to prevent
crimes in the future.
Governments all around the world spend large amounts of money to prevent crimes year after
year. On the other hand, the cost of handling criminal cases through the jurisdiction process is
also significantly high. These funds would have been used elsewhere where they would have
been more productive (Rossmo 2012).

Ellison Street, Lancashire
Fig 1: Location
Ellison Street is located within the county of Lancashire which is in the North West region of the
UK. 182.55 miles North West from the center of London, 19.71 miles North from the center of
Manchester, 26.71 miles South East from the center of Lancaster and 34.07 miles West from the
center of Leeds.
Of the total incidents which were reported in 2018, a total of 158 crimes were recorded near or
on Ellison Street, making it 50 offences ahead of other crime hotspot areas. 54 crimes were
related to shoplifting. 54 % of crimes was accounted for Shoplifting, while anti-social behavior
made for 22.1%. However, there were no criminal damage reports, drugs or vehicle robbery
(Rossmo 2017).
This is highest figure for crimes in any street in England and Wales during 2018 alone. A small
public bar a few yards away from the street is the nation's most violent crime hotspot - with one
offence every after five hours. The majority of offences recorded in the area were theft related -
with 118 shoplifting cases, while others accounted for robbery and other crimes.

Ellison Street is one of the most highly human - densely populated street in the UK. During the
daytime, human traffic can make up to 250,000, with almost one million tourists and commuters
entering through the street daily (Weisburd, Bruinsma, & Bernasco 2009). Furthermore, the
presence of a couple of drinking bas and public garages along the street makes it more prone to
crimes than any other street.
However, the street records one of UK’s highest crime rates, most likely due to tourist activities
that take place along the street. This portfolio is a risk assessment of Ellison Street, which
assesses crime prevalence in the street, and gives recommendations and strategies for crime
prevention. Below is a map of Ellison Street.
Figure 2: Map of Ellison Street
Crime risk assessment for Ellison Street

The most reported type of crimes in Ellison Street is burglary, which makes up to 26000 daily
reported incidents during period of year 2017 to 2018 alone as shown in the figure below:
Figure 3: Crime rates in Ellison Street
Violence against persons comes second as the most reported crime in the street, with 9500
incidences reported in the year 2017 to 2018 alone (Rossmo 2017). . Burglary alone contributed
to 6% of the total crimes in Ellison Street while robbery cases contribute only 3%. This makes it
a total of 58% of reported crimes in Ellison Street
Application of environmental criminology in the case of Ellison Street
In the case of Ellison Street, the metropolitan police have redressed the problem and have started
crime mapping action. Nowadays crime mapping is majorly implemented using computer
programs. The crime hotspots in Ellison Street have been identified and studies have highlighted
the most affected areas. Ineffectiveness of CCTV cameras and a lack of sufficient lighting
systems in the alleys are the leading causes of increased criminal activities in Ellison Street
(Chainey & Ratcliffe 2013).
Police reacted to this report by enlisting more police patrols during the night, seeking for a
motion in the council assembly to increase funding for management of CCTV cameras, fixing
and installing new street light systems and painting buildings to remove graffiti (Paulsen, Bair &

Helms 2009). Additionally, the state issued loans for the jobless to start small businesses, and
owners of vacant and abandoned retail spaces were encouraged to start operating. The police
began to issue tickets for petty crimes like speeding, vandalism and other meagre crimes.
Crime-Rate Comparison for Ellison Street
Compared to other areas, Ellison Street is slightly above average when it comes to crime cases.
According g to the police, Ellison Street ranks first as far as crime rates are concerned in the UK
(Rossmo et al 2014). While crime in the street is considered to be above average across all
groups considered, bicycle theft rate is assumed to be normal across all the groups considered.
As opposed to other areas, arson, criminal damage, vehicle crime and public order are considered
to be normal in Ellison Street (Ferreira & Martins 2012). When it comes to burglary, theft,
sexual offences, shoplifting, drugs and other related crimes, the rates are considered to be above
average.
Comparison for London and Ellison Street on Crime –rate
In comparison with other areas in London, the crime rate in Ellison Street is much higher than all
boroughs considered. According to the reports given by the police in 2018, Ellison Street is the
worst affected. The street accounts for 25,000 more criminal cases accounted in it than in
Lambeth, which ranks second in highest crime rates (Eck & Weisburd 2015)
Crime Statistics and Trends for Ellison Street
The crime rate in Ellison Street has been on the decline since the year 2012. However, the street
still has a high record of crime rates than any other related boroughs (Malleson, Heppenstall &
2010).
Spatial Crime Analysis in the Case of Ellison Street
Based on the environmental criminology approach, the crime activities in this street can be
analyzed using three theories as follows:
i. The Broken Windows theory

This theory suggests that a broken window makes other windows vulnerable to breakage.
Criminal cases can be increased simply by not doing enough on the crimes that have already
taken place (Welsh & Farrington 2012). This theory suggests that criminals are likely to target
buildings that would seem to be in a state of physical disorder. Physical disorders may also
represent neglected or vacant lots, neglected cars, buildings or property that has graffiti, or
derelict buildings. Another facet that the theory holds is that social disorder is also another strong
precursor for crimes. Social disorders includes drug – dealing, loitering, street prostitution or
other activities that may be violating the agreed norms of a tradition. The broken windows theory
would predict that all forms of disorders are basically the fundamental precursor’s too big crimes
(Rocque, Welsh & Raine 2012).
ii. Environmental design (CPTED) theory.
This notion was developed by C. Ray Jeffreey In 1971. The approach of crime prevention holds
that environments can be engineered and designed so as to prevent crime. The approach is
founded on the belief that behavior of criminals many be influenced by changing the natural
space, which may be characteristically applied to urban environments. The second
recommendation, based on this theory is that CPTED can be used to prevent criminal activities
by hampering offenders from committing crimes. CPTED has been seen to be an effective way
of preventing crime.
iii. Situational crime prevention theory
This theory is based on the principle that all crimes are made possible by holding on an
opportunity. It therefore holds that there is no single crime that cannot be addressed by
situational crime prevention. Evidence has shown that security cases that have been properly
solved by situational crime prevention approach may not repeat themselves in the future.
However, situational approach has continually received criticism for because of its ethical and
social costs.

Effect of Crime on Ellison Street on Residents
While London can be generally considered to be safe, Ellison Street crime rate is still high, and
cases of arson, theft, vehicle robbery and handling are rampant. According to a report issued by
the police, the Metropolitan Police who service Ellison Street area need improvement especially
when it comes to ensuring the safety of the people and to reduce crime (Kennedy, Caplan & Piza
2011). When it comes to efficiency in ensuring safety of the Ellison Street residents, the
Metropolitan Police rate fairly well in their efforts.
The latest information from the Office of National Crime tactics reports that Ellison Street has a
total worst crime record of 124,900 crimes recorded between May 2016 and May 2018.
In summary, based on all the points that have been highlighted in this section on the security
assessment of Ellison Street, the main reasons for this status can be attributed to the following
aspects in the environment:
i. Lack of proper crime prevention policies in the police department that is
responsible for security in the street.
ii. Failure of the government to implement criminology principles in mitigation
interventions for prevention of crimes.
iii. The criminology department of the state is not doing its work properly to help
the police department in stabilizing the criminal cases.
iv. CCTV services provided is not one of the most effective way the council
spends its resources, and therefore the services were ceased as from the start
of the year 2016. This has increases crime cases by more than a double fold,
as most of the CCTV systems have not been functional.
v. Dark alleys – most of the lighting systems in the streets of Ellison Street are
defunct, hence providing conducive areas for criminals to hide.
Strategies of crime prevention in Ellison Street
Crime prevention includes all efforts aimed at reducing or deterring criminal activities
(Newburn, Williamson & Wright 2012). The concept of crime prevention applies directly to all

efforts of the government to make sure that crime has reduced, law is in force and that justice is
maintained. Criminologists’ studies on ways of reducing crime all agree that that the
governments must be willing to extend their efforts beyond law enforcement and maintaining
criminal justice and shift to actively engage in tackling the risk factors that lead to crimes
(Crawford 2013). This is because of the undeniable fact that it is cheaper to prevent crimes than
to remedy its effects. Public support in reducing crime is also very important. Some of the
proposed strategies for reducing cases of crime in Ellison Street are highlighted below (Crowe &
Fennelly 2013):
i. Disorder policing - this is a crime prevention strategy that is used in preventing
crimes and delinquency by directing efforts to neighborhoods that are disorderly and
those that are affected by crime cases. This strategy is effective for preventing a
number of crime types that include arson, property related thefts, and drug and
alcohol related offenses.
ii. Alley gating- this a situational based crime prevention strategy that is mainly
implementable within the UK, that employs gates that are lockable that can be used to
control alleys, row homes, especially areas where crimes frequently occur.
iii. CCTV Surveillance – this is a technique of monitoring of public areas by using a
network of cameras that record and transmit video images to control centers that man
affected areas. This strategy is to reduce both personal and property crimes. However,
this strategy has no much impact in reducing or preventing violent crimes.
iv. Focused Deterrence Strategies – this is a strategy that is focused on following the
principle of deterrence theory. It has been established that deterrence strategies that
are focused on evaluation can help in reducing and or preventing crime in cities.
v. Improved Street Lighting – this is a crimes prevention strategy that is focused on
improving lighting systems in streets as a way of discouraging crime cases.
vi. Seeking for internationally responses and interventions to deal with global drug
trafficking. This is because drug abuse is a key precursor towards engagement in
crime activities.

vii. Multi-component interventions– Multi-component intervention tools include
installation of CCTV camera systems, boosting security patrols especially at night,
fixing street lighting systems, graffiti removal and many others. If these large scale
environmental changes would be implemented across the security loopholes, there
would be reduction in fear of criminal cases.
viii. Area-bound regeneration initiatives – these are interventions that can be made at
group levels. For example sensitizing the public on the need to be vigilant especially
with their property could help reduce cases of crimes.
Recommendations
i. The only way to prevent crimes is to ensure mitigation measures are applied
immediately. Hence, according to this theory, the recommendation for preventing
crimes in Ellison Street is first to appropriately and accordingly deal with cases of
crime that have already been identified. All the identified loop holes should be fixed
immediately so ad to avoid attracting the same fate to the same circumstances. It is
also true that according to broken window theory that criminals often tend to take
advantage of weaknesses where they can easily exploit an advantage.
ii. The second recommendation is based on CPTED theory. This theory can be applied
to prevent criminal activities by threatening offenders from committing crimes, based
on the repercussions. CPTED has been seen to be an effective way of preventing
crime.
iii. The recommendation, based on this theory is that the metropolitan police in charge of
Ellison Street must be more vigilant in responding to reported cases of crime.
Conclusion
According to this report, it is clear that environmental interventions may have a big impact in
reducing fears that are related to crimes in Ellison Street. The most effective categories of these
interventions include improvements in the home security and general improvements in the
environment. Notwithstanding, installation of CCTVS appears to be the least effective amongst
the interventions identified. This is because the intervention has shown a consistent evidence of

ineffectiveness, even as observed in this report. However, it could be possible that these findings
could be confounded were all the CCTV camera installed working properly. Other alternatives
identified are all deemed to be equivocally effective in reducing crime cases in Ellison Street.

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