ABSTRACT
Crime science describes a distinctive approach to determining responses to crime problems. Using experimental approaches and scientific principles, it aims to inform crime-reduction policies and practices, including those relating to situational prevention, detection, disruption and treatment. The roots of crime science and many of its underlying theoretical approaches to crime control can be traced to the development of environmental criminology. Primary crime prevention aims to avert crime by stopping it from happening, and addresses the behaviour of the general population. Thus, routine activity theory and situational crime prevention together with contributions from a number of scholars who have studied crime analysis and crime mapping all contribute to the theoretical infrastructure from which crime science draws. Other crime-science research has demonstrated the use of agent-based modelling, which makes it possible to test crime theories using computer-simulated models, reducing risk to victims and without raising ethical issues.
