Parish MattersParish Matters-29 September 2010-29 September 2010

Envirocrime – Definition Envirocrime – Definition and Evolution of Our and Evolution of Our Strategies For InterventionStrategies For Intervention

Gordon Buchanan, Senior Environmental Health officerGordon Buchanan, Senior Environmental Health officerEnvironmental Services, Community ServicesEnvironmental Services, Community Services

AimAim

• Broad Understanding of The Ethos Broad Understanding of The Ethos Behind Our Approach, Definition of Behind Our Approach, Definition of Envirocrime – Gordon BuchananEnvirocrime – Gordon Buchanan

• An Overview of What We Are Doing – An Overview of What We Are Doing – Alison RichardsAlison Richards

• The Domestic Context – Chris GillettThe Domestic Context – Chris Gillett

• DiscussionDiscussion

DefinitionDefinition

• ‘An environmental crime is an act committed with the intent to harm or with a potential to cause harm to ecological and/or biological systems and for the purpose of securing business or personal advantage

Definition ContDefinition Cont

• ‘An environmental crime is an unauthorised act or omission that violates the law and is therefore subject to criminal prosecution and criminal sanction. This offence harms or endangers people’s physical safety or health as well as the environment itself. It serves the interests of either organizations—typically corporations—or individuals

Definition cont/dDefinition cont/d

• ‘Environmental crime includes all offences either created by statute or developed under the common law that relate to the environment.’

Corporate Context

South Gloucestershire Council is committed to ensuring that South Gloucestershire remains a great place to live and work. A key aspects of this commitment is Promoting Safer and Stronger Communities and Valuing the Environment

Priority 18. BE SAFE AND FEEL SAFE - To continueto prevent and tackle crime, disorder, anti-socialbehaviour, drug and alcohol misuse and the fearof crime effectively. Priority 24. RESOURCE USE, POLLUTION AND WASTE To cut consumption of resources, preventpollution and waste and live within environmental limits.

This work is also reflected in the Local Waste Strategy.

Promoting Safer and Stronger Communities

Translate To The CouncilTranslate To The Council

• Fly TippingFly Tipping

• Abandoned VehiclesAbandoned Vehicles

• Dog FoulingDog Fouling

• LitteringLittering

• GraffitiGraffiti

• NoiseNoise

• Abandoned Shopping TrolleysAbandoned Shopping Trolleys

Broken Window TheoryBroken Window Theory

• 19821982

• Social ScientistsSocial Scientists

• James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling

• The Atlantic MonthlyThe Atlantic Monthly

• ““Broken WindowsBroken Windows””

Broken Window Theory cont/dBroken Window Theory cont/d

• Consider a building with a few broken Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, they may even break into the building, and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside squatters or light fires inside

Broken Window Theory cont/dBroken Window Theory cont/d

• Consider a sidewalk. Some litter Consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars restaurants there or breaking into cars

Broken Window Theory cont/dBroken Window Theory cont/d

• social norms and conformity social norms and conformity

• the presence or lack of monitoring, and the presence or lack of monitoring, and

• social signalling and signal crime social signalling and signal crime

Support For Theory – New YorkSupport For Theory – New York

• 1985 George L. Kelling NYCTA1985 George L. Kelling NYCTA

• Graffiti targeted and cleanedGraffiti targeted and cleaned

• 1993 Rudy Giuliani appointed Mayor1993 Rudy Giuliani appointed Mayor

• ““Zero Tolerance” and “Quality of Life”Zero Tolerance” and “Quality of Life”

• Subway Fare Evasion, Public Drinking, Subway Fare Evasion, Public Drinking, Urination and The “Squeegee Men”Urination and The “Squeegee Men”

Support For Theory – New YorkSupport For Theory – New York

• 2001 Review of Crime Trends2001 Review of Crime Trends

• Sudden and Significant Drop in both Sudden and Significant Drop in both Petty and Serious CrimePetty and Serious Crime

Support For Theory – Massachusetts Support For Theory – Massachusetts

• Harvard University and Suffolk Harvard University and Suffolk University University

• 34 Hotspots34 Hotspots

• ½ cleared trash, fixed streetlights, ½ cleared trash, fixed streetlights, enforced building codes, discouraged enforced building codes, discouraged loiterers, loiterers,

• ½ no change to routine police service ½ no change to routine police service

Support For Theory – MassachusettsSupport For Theory – Massachusetts

• 20% reduction in calls to the police 20% reduction in calls to the police

• cleaning up the physical environment is cleaning up the physical environment is more effective than misdemeanour more effective than misdemeanour arrests arrests

Practical ApplicationPractical Application

• 2006 Defra Published “2006 Defra Published “Fly-tipping: causes, incentives and solutions: A good practice guide for Local Authorities”

• Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science University College London

Situational Crime PreventionSituational Crime Prevention

• Increasing the effort for the potential offender• Increasing the risks to the potential offender• Reducing the rewards for the potential

offender• Reducing provocations of potential offenders• Removing the excuses available to potential

offenders

RecommendationsRecommendations

• Strategic Working Strategic Working

• Maximising resources

• Partnership working

• Engaging with the community

• Securing convictions

What Have We DoneWhat Have We Done

• November 2008 Fly Tipping Strategy November 2008 Fly Tipping Strategy ApprovedApproved

• Incorporated Fundamentals of Broken Incorporated Fundamentals of Broken Window TheoryWindow Theory

• Recommendations of DEFRA ReportRecommendations of DEFRA Report

The main strands

Education• Information reception, i.e. reporting – one

point of access• Eyes and ears principle• Talks and presentations • Webpage, leaflets, press releases,

promotional materials, e.g tax disc holders• Proactive activities e.g. Environment days• Annual report

The main strands

Enforcement• Enforcement training

- Matrix of legislation

• Policy and Procedures

• Case preparation and presentation

• Evidence gathering (inc CCTV)

• Joint operations

Environmental Protection

Street Care Waste Management

Envirocrime TeamPartners