Concluding Remarks on Application and Evaluation

Abstract

One of the main aims of this book has been to develop a comprehensive, generic, theory-based model for preventing various forms of crime. The holistic theory of prevention mechanisms has proven to be a good basis for thinking systematically about this, while at the same time most people find it easy to understand. The nine different prevention mechanisms described in the book explain how measures can help to reduce the occurrence of criminal acts or the consequences of such actions. Based on the nine mechanisms and five very different types of crime, we have specified relevant means and who is responsible for implementing them, who the target groups are, and the strengths and advantages of the sub-strategies, as well as the limitations and the unintended side effects. The purpose has been to demonstrate that the model really is generic and can be used to develop comprehensive strategies for preventing most — and very diverse — forms of crime. The model is both a theoretical aid for expanding our understanding of a crime phenomenon and a practical tool for those professions in society tasked with preventing crime, meaning that they will have more room for action and will be helped to discover and assess possible means. The model could have been far more complex and sophisticated,1 but this would have made it harder to understand for ordinary practitioners and thereby also less useful for practical crime prevention. One of the goals has been to make the theoretical model so simple and obvious that it can be understood and used by ordinary police officers, crime prevention officers, politicians and policy-makers.