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| This study provides practical advice to encourage and assist rural communities in Scotland to develop local initiatives to tackle crime. It highlights a range of initiatives and illustrates examples of good practice. |
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| Main Findings |
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- Rural crime is rare, and violent crime is very rare. However, it is wise to take precautions as crime, particularly theft, is on the increase. Fear of crime is also a issue, especially amongst the elderly and those living alone.
- Ways of making crime more difficult can range from fitting locks and security lighting to establishing Neighbourhood watch schemes. Particularly rural solutions include Farm watch, special constables, mobile police offices, shared police accommodation and wildlife crime initiatives.
- Diversionary activities to steer people away from crime include drop-in centres, youth and alcohol free cafes, running drug awareness events and intergenerational workshops.
- Solutions need not always require finance. Some of the ideas are cheap on technology but require people to commit time and energy to make the idea work, or simply be more vigilant and security conscious. Others, such as lighting and alarms, require an initial capital investment, but are then much easier to run.
- Although anyone can set up a crime prevention initiative, it is important to work in partnership with the Police and other local crime safety groups.
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| The Guide |
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This guide aims to assist local voluntary groups, community safety groups, community councils and rural development organisations across rural Scotland to improve community safety. It: - discusses trends in crime in rural Scotland
- outlines key issues to consider when establishing a community safety initiative
- draws on the experience of a variety of community safety initiatives throughout rural Scotland.
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| Case Studies |
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A variety of crime prevention initiatives are described which aim to reduce the chance of becoming a victim of crime and reduce the fear of crime by: - making crime more difficult, eg by making property safer, being security conscious, helping victims of crime, and making it more likely that criminals are caught. Particularly rural solutions include Farm Watch schemes, special constables, mobile police offices, shared police accommodation, and wildlife crime initiatives.
- reducing people's desire to commit crime, eg by steering people away from crime, by running constructive diversionary activities, providing facilities such as drop-in centres and alcohol free cafes and building self esteem.
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| Key Issues |
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Successful projects have these key features in common: - accurate information on the problem
Finding out what happens where & when is important to prioritise and tailor efforts to the problems that are occurring in the local community. Not all crimes are reported to the police and fear of crime can be more common than crime itself Involving local people can provide a wealth of ideas and information, as well as essential volunteers to help in developing an initiative. In addition, most successful projects have increased public awareness of the problem and encouraged people to be more vigilant and pro-active. Projects are much more likely to be successful if they are developed in partnership with the police, council, and local community safety group. Benefits include valuable advice, and co-ordination of effort. The most important resource is enthusiastic and committed volunteers or co-ordinators - it can be helpful to establish a core group of motivated people to overcome problems of commitment and to keep momentum going. - learning from the experience of others
Some project groups have found it helpful to draw on the experience of other groups who have tried similar projects - in order to learn from the problems encountered, the lessons learned and solutions found. |
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| "New Ideas in Rural Development No 8: Tackling Crime in Rural Scotland", the research report summarised in this Research Findings, forms one of a series of guides issued on behalf of the Scottish National Rural Partnership and is available priced £2.50. Cheques should be made payable to The Stationery Office and addressed to: |
The Stationery Office Bookshop,
71 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh EH3 9AZ
Telephone: 0131-228 4181, or Fax: 0131-622 7017 |
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| This report can also be ordered online from: www.thestationeryoffice.co.uk |
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| Further copies of this Research Findings may be obtained from: |
The Scottish Office Central Research Unit
2J
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Telephone: 0131-244 7560 |
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| or from the publications section of The Scottish Office Website: www.scotland.gov.uk |