ABSTRACT
This chapter considers what constitutes ‘good’ theory for crime prevention. It proposes some requirements for a ‘good’ theory. To effect positive change, crime prevention activities have either to deactivate/degrade crime producing mechanisms and/or introduce/strengthen mechanisms that will counter those liable to generate crime. Scanning involves identifying specific problems for preventive attention, including new ones that emerge with technological and social developments. Crime prevention is complex in ways that present challenges to the formulation of adequate theories. Herman Goldstein and Michael Scott have written about the ways in which leverage of different kinds can be applied to those competent to prevent crime even when they have no formal responsibility for doing so. Responsibility and competency for crime prevention are widely divided from one another. Community safety policy and practice has been orientated to reducing the quality of life consequences of crime as well as crime itself.
