Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Middle-Range Radical Realism for Crime Prevention

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
What is to Be Done About Crime and Punishment?

Abstract

Let us not assume that there has been no effective and ethical crime prevention. Let us also not assume that current research, beliefs, policies and practices are not open to improvement. This chapter argues in favour of middle-range radical realism as a framework for developing and delivering progressive crime prevention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Informed discretion is preferable to uninformed routine responses, uninformed discretionary responses, or informed rule-bound responses insensitive to idiosyncratic conditions. An alternative may be normal defaults, rooted in evidence of what has been found in typical conditions with scope for discretionary departures where there is evidence that the conditions are atypical. The development of those skills and the improvement in the knowledge base will require a long-term programme. It will also involve the teacher–learner relationship with the research community mentioned in the agenda for research.

References

  • Armitage, R. (2013). Crime prevention through housing design. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Asch, S. E. (1955). Opinions and social pressure. Scientific American, 193(5), 31–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhaskar, R. (1975). A realist theory of science. Brighton: Harvester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, K. J., Johnson, S. D., & Hirschfield, A. F. (2004). Closing off opportunities for crime: An evaluation of Alley-Gating. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 10(4), 285–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga, A., Kennedy, D., & Piehl, A. (1999). Problem-oriented policing and youth violence: An evaluation of the Boston Gun project, Unpublished report to the National Institute of Justice, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, S. (1976). The effectiveness of sentencing (Home office research study no. 35). London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. (2004). The effectiveness of electronic immobilisation: Changing patterns of temporary and permanent vehicle theft. In M. G. Maxfield & R. V. Clarke (Eds.), Understanding and preventing car theft (pp. 101–119). Monsey: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. (2013). Reviewing the evidence of electronic vehicle immobilisation: Evidence from four countries. Security Journal. doi:10.1057/sj2012.55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullock, K., Erol, R., & Tilley, N. (2006). Problem-oriented policing and partnerships: Implementing an evidence-based approach to crime reduction. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright, N., & Hardie, J. (2012). Evidence-based policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. (1980). Situational crime prevention: Theory and practice. British Journal of Criminology, 20, 136–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. (1997). Situational crime prevention: Successful case studies (2nd ed.). New York: Harrow and Heston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. (2005). Seven misconceptions of situational crime prevention. In N. Tilley (Ed.), Handbook of crime prevention and community safety. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R., & Hough, M. (1984). Crime and police effectiveness (Home Office Research Study 79). London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R., & Weisburd, D. (1994). Diffusion of crime control benefits: Observations on the reverse of displacement. In R. Clarke (Ed.), Crime prevention studies (Vol. 2). Monsey: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, L. E., & Felson, M. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activities approach. American Sociological Review, 44, 588–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, E. (1951). Suicide. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eck, J., & Eck, E. (2012). Crime place and pollution. Criminology and Public Policy, 11(2), 281–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekblom, P. (1986). The prevention of shoptheft (Crime Prevention Unit Paper 5). London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekblom, P. (1997). Gearing up against crime: A dynamic framework to help designers keep up with the adaptive criminal in a changing world. International Journal of Risk, Security and Crime Prevention, 2(4), 249–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekblom, P. (2011). Crime prevention, security and community safety using the 5Is framework. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., & Pease, K. (1993). Once bitten, twice bitten: Repeat victimisation and its implications for crime prevention (Crime Prevention Unit Paper 46). London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., & Pease, K. (Eds.). (2001). Repeat victimization (Crime prevention studies series 12). Monsey: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., & Roman, J. (2006). Crime as pollution. In K. Moss & M. Stephens (Eds.), Crime reduction and the law. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., & Tilley, N. (Forthcoming). Technology for crime prevention: A supply side analysis. In B. Leclerc, and E. Savona (Eds.) Crime Prevention. Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., Tseloni, A., & Tilley, N. (2011a). The effectiveness of vehicle security devices and their role in the crime drop. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 11(1), 21–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., Tseloni, A., & Tilley, N. (2015) Why the crime drop? In M. Tonry (Ed.) Why Crime Rates Fall and Why They Don’t. Crime and Justice Vol. 43 (pp 421–490). Chicago: Chicago University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., Tseloni, A., Mailley, J., & Tilley, N. (2011b). The crime drop and the security hypothesis. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 48, 147–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., Laycock, G., & Tilley, N. (2015). Debuts and legacies: The crime drop an the role of adolescence-limited and persistent offending. Crime Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felson, M. (1998). Crime and everyday life. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, H. (1979). Problem-oriented policing. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, M. (2015). Future crimes. London: Bantam Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grove, L., & Farrell, G. (2014). Once bitten, twice shy: Repeat victimisation and its prevention. In B. Welsh, and D. Farrington (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of crime prevention. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerette, R. T., & Bowers, K. (2009). Assessing the extent of crime displacement and diffusion of benefit: A systematic review of situational crime prevention evaluations. Criminology, 47(4), 1331–1368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanmer, J., Griffiths, S., & Jerwood, D. (1999). Arresting evidence: Domestic violence and repeat victimisation policing research series paper 104. London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harré, R. (1972). The philosophies of science. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Homel, R. (1994). Drink-driving law enforcement and the legal blood alcohol limit in New South Wales. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 26(2), 147–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homel, R. (1995). Can police prevent crime? In K. Bryett & C. Lewis (Eds.), Contemporary policing: Unpeeling tradition. Sydney: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hough, M. (2014). Confessions of a recovering ‘administrative criminologist’: Jock Young, quantitative research and policy research. Crime Media Culture, 10(3), 215–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hough, M., & Mayhew, P. (1983). The British crime survey: First report (Home Office Research Study 76). London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hough, M., Jackson, J., Bradford, B., Myhill, A., & Quinton, P. (2010). Procedural justice, trust and institutional legitimacy. Policing, 4(3), 203–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houghton, G. (1992). Car theft in England and Wales: The Home Office car theft index (Crime Prevention Unit Paper 33). London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hume, D. (1793). A treatise on human nature. London: John Noon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ignatans, D., & Pease, K. (2015). Distributive justice and the crime drop. In M. Andresen & G. Farrell (Eds.), Routine activities and the criminal act. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S., & Bowers, K. (2004). The Burglary as clue to the future: The beginnings of prospective hot-spotting. European Journal of Criminology, 1, 237–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S., & Loxley, C. (2001). Installing alley-gates: Practical lessons from burglary prevention projects. Home office crime reduction research series, 2(1). London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S., Birks, D., McLaughlin, L., Bowers, K., & Pease, K. (2007). Prospective mapping in operational context. London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S., Tilley, N., & Bowers, K. (2015). Introducing EMMIE: An evidence rating scale to encourage mixed-method crime prevention synthesis reviews. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 11(3), 459–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, D. M. (2008). Deterrence and crime prevention: Reconsidering the prospect of sanction. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleiman, M. (2009). When Brute force fails: How to have Less crime and less punishment. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Laub, J., & Sampson, R. (2003). Shared beginnings, divergent lives. Cambridge Mass: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laycock, G. (2004). The U.K. car theft index: An example of government leverage. In M. Maxfield & R. V. Clarke (Eds.), Understanding and preventing car theft, crime prevention studies (Vol. 17). Monsey: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laycock, G. (2012). Happy birthday. Policing, 6(2), 101–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laycock, G., & Tilley, N. (1994). Implementing crime prevention. In M. Tonry & D. P. Farrington (Eds.), Building a safer society: Strategic approaches to crime prevention (Crime and Justice: A review of research). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laycock, G., & Tilley, N. (1995). Policing and neighbourhood watch: Strategic issues (Crime detection and prevention series paper 60). Home Office: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackie, J. (1965). Causes and conditions. American Philosophical Quarterly, 2, 245–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, T. (1963). Sociology at the crossroads. London: Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx, K. (1867). Capital, many editions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, R. (2014). Realist criminology. Basingstoke: Palgrave/Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mayhew, P., Clarke, R., Sturman, A., & Hough, M. (1976). Crime as opportunity (Home Office Research Study 34). London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazerolle, L., Bennett, S., Davis, J., Sargeant, E., & Manning, M. (2013). Legitimacy in policing: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. doi:10.4073/csr.2013.1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medawar, P. (1967). The art of the soluble. London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merton, R. (1968). Social theory and social structure (3rd ed.). New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to authority: An experimental view. New York: Harper and Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, N., & Cooper, C. (2013). The start of a criminal career: Does the type of debut offence predict future offending? London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawson, R. (2000). Middle range realism. European Journal of Sociology, 41(2), 283–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawson, R., & Tilley, N. (1997). Realistic evaluation. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pease, K. (1997). Predicting the future: The roles of routine activity and rational choice theory. In G. Newman, R. Clarke, & S. Shoham (Eds.), Rational choice and situational crime prevention. Aldershot: Dartmouth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pease, K. (1998). Repeat victimisation: Taking stock (Crime detection and prevention series paper 90). London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K. (1945). The open society and its enemies (Vols. 1 and 2). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K. (1957). The poverty of historicism. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K. (1959). The logic of scientific discovery. London: Hutchinson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K. (1972). Objective knowledge: An evolutionary approach. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K., & Eccles, J. (1977). The self and its brain: An argument for interactionism. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, L., & Nisbett, R. (2011). The person and the situation. London: Pinter and Martin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayer, A. (1984). Method in social science: A realist approach. London: Hutchinson.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sayer, A. (2000). Realism and social science. London: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, M. (2005). Shifting and sharing police responsibility for crime prevention. In N. Tilley (Ed.), Handbook of crime prevention and community safety. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd, J. (2003). Explaining feast or famine in randomised field trials: Medical science and criminology compared. Evaluation Review, 27(3), 290–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, L. (1997). Thinking about crime prevention. In L. Sherman, D. Gottfredson, D. MacKenzie, J. Eck, P. Reuter, & S. Bushway (Eds.), Preventing crime: What works, what doesn’t, what’s promising. A report to the United States Congress. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice..

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, L. (2013). The rise of evidence-based policing. Crime and Justice, 42, 377–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sidebottom, A., Tompson, L., Thornton, A., Bullock, K., Tilley, N., Bowers, K., & Johnson, S. (2015). Gating alleys to reduce crime: A meta-analysis and realist synthesis, Unpublished report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair, I. (1971). Hostels for probationers. London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, B. (1965). Science and human behavior. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L. (1986). Crime in hospitals: Diagnosis and prevention (Crime prevention unit paper 7). London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N. (1993). Understanding car parks, crime and CCTV (Crime prevention unit paper 42). London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N. (1996). Demonstration, exemplification, duplication and replication in evaluation research. Evaluation, 2, 35–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N. (2004). Karl Popper: A philosopher for Ronald Clarke’s situational crime prevention. In S. Shoham & P. Knepper (Eds.), Tradition and innovation in crime and justice. de Sitter: Willowdale.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N. (2009). Crime prevention. Cullompton: Willan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N. (2010). Shoplifting. In F. Brookman, M. Maguire, H. Pierpoint, & T. Bennett (Eds.), Handbook on crime. Willan: Cullompton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N. (2012). Crime reduction: Responsibility, regulation and research. Criminology and Public Policy, 11(2), 361–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N. (2014). There is nothing so practical as a good theory: Teacher-learner relationships in applied research for policing. In E. Cockbain & J. Knutsson (Eds.), Applied police research: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 141–152). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N., & Sidebottom, A. (2015). Routine activities and opportunity theory. In M. Krohn & J. Lane (Eds.), Handbook on juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice. Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilley, N., Tseloni, A., & Farrell, G. (2011). Income disparities of burglary risk: Security availability and the crime drop. British Journal of Criminology, 51, 296–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tonry, M. (Ed.). (2014). Why crime rates fall and why they don’t (Volume 43 of Crime and justice). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tseloni, A., Mailley, J., Farrell, G., & Tilley, N. (2010). Exploring the international decline in crime rates. European Journal of Criminology, 7(5), 375–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, T. (2003). Procedural justice, legitimacy, and the effective rule of law. Crime and Justice, 30, 283–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNODC. (2013). Comprehensive study on cybercrime. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, J. J. M., Tseloni, A., & Farrell, G. (Eds.) (2012). The international crime drop: New directions in research. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Ours, J. C., & Vollaard, B. (2013). The engine immobilizer: A non-starter for car thieves. CESifo working paper: Public choice, no. 4092 (Centre for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute). Munich: University of Munich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisburd, D., & Eck, J. (2004, May). What can police do to reduce crime, disorder, and fear? The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 593, 42–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisburd, D., Telep, C., Hinkle, J., & Eck, J. (2010). Is problem-oriented policing effective. Criminology and Public Policy, 9(1), 139–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins, L. (1964). Social deviance: Social policy, action and research. London: Tavistock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wortley, R. (1997). Reconsidering the role of opportunity in situational crime prevention. In G. Newman, R. Clarke, & S. Shohan (Eds.), Rational choice and situational crime prevention. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. (1986). The failure of criminology: The need for a radical realism. In R. Matthews & J. Young (Eds.), Confronting crime. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimbardo, P. (2007). The Lucifer effect. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Security and Crime Science, University College, London, UK

    Nick Tilley

Authors
  1. Nick Tilley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom

    Roger Matthews

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tilley, N. (2016). Middle-Range Radical Realism for Crime Prevention. In: Matthews, R. (eds) What is to Be Done About Crime and Punishment?. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57228-8_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57228-8_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-57227-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-57228-8

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation