Crime prevention strategies

    AQA
    GCSE

    This study area examines the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of crime control policies in contemporary society. Candidates must analyse the shift from penal welfarism to the 'culture of control' (Garland), contrasting Right Realist approaches (Situational and Environmental) with Left Realist strategies (Social and Community). Critical focus is required on the mechanisms of surveillance (Foucault's Panopticon vs. Mathiesen's Synopticon) and the sociological evaluation of effectiveness, specifically addressing the issue of displacement versus diffusion of benefits. Mastery of this topic requires linking specific strategies (e.g., Zero Tolerance) to broader theoretical frameworks (e.g., Wilson & Kelling's Broken Windows).

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for explicit use of sociological terminology such as 'target hardening', 'surveillance', 'zero tolerance', and 'broken windows theory'.
    • Credit responses that link specific strategies to their theoretical underpinnings (e.g., Right Realism driving Zero Tolerance policing).
    • Candidates must evaluate the limitations of strategies, specifically the concept of 'displacement' (spatial, temporal, or tactical) rather than absolute reduction.
    • High-level responses must contrast structural approaches (tackling poverty) with agency-based approaches (increasing risk to offenders).

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for explicit use of sociological terminology such as 'target hardening', 'surveillance', 'zero tolerance', and 'broken windows theory'.
    • Credit responses that link specific strategies to their theoretical underpinnings (e.g., Right Realism driving Zero Tolerance policing).
    • Candidates must evaluate the limitations of strategies, specifically the concept of 'displacement' (spatial, temporal, or tactical) rather than absolute reduction.
    • High-level responses must contrast structural approaches (tackling poverty) with agency-based approaches (increasing risk to offenders).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When using the Item (source), explicitly quote or refer to the data/text to trigger AO2 application marks immediately.
    • 💡In 12-mark 'Discuss how far' questions, ensure a 'juxtaposition' structure: present a strategy (e.g., CCTV), then immediately critique it (e.g., displacement).
    • 💡Allocate strictly 1 minute per mark; spend maximum 12-15 minutes on the final essay question to ensure conclusion time.
    • 💡Use the 'PERC' structure for evaluation: Practical issues, Ethical issues, Reliability/Validity of data, Theoretical perspective.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'crime prevention' with 'punishment'; failing to distinguish between deterring an act and penalizing an offender after the fact.
    • Providing generic, non-sociological suggestions (e.g., 'more police on streets') without referencing 'visible deterrence' or 'formal social control'.
    • Ignoring the 'dark figure of crime' when discussing the success of strategies based on official statistics.

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

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    Discuss
    Evaluate
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