ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the relationship between Popperian philosophy and situational crime prevention. In its treatment of situational crime prevention (SCP), the main focus will be on Ronald Clarke as the chief architect and theorist of situational crime prevention, though others' work will also be referred to from time to time. SCP has also been developed through the trialling of siruational methods of crime control. Karl Popper's relevant ideas had long been formed by the time Clarke was producing his most significant work in SCP. Popper also took no serious interest in criminology. SCP is also sceptical of arguments that problems have to be addressed by tackling root causes. First, it is hard to be sure what comprise root causes. Second, what are often assumed to comprise root causes, be they intrapersonal or social structural, are in practice very difficult to change.
