27.07.2013 Views

Organised Crime & Crime Prevention - what works? - Scandinavian ...

Organised Crime & Crime Prevention - what works? - Scandinavian ...

Organised Crime & Crime Prevention - what works? - Scandinavian ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

NSfK´s 40. forskerseminar, Espoo, Finland 1998<br />

Karsten Ive, Head of Secretariat<br />

<strong>Crime</strong> <strong>Prevention</strong> Council<br />

Odensegade 5, 2. Sal, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø<br />

<strong>Crime</strong> <strong>Prevention</strong> in Denmark<br />

In 1971 it was decided to establish the <strong>Crime</strong> <strong>Prevention</strong> Council (Det Kriminalpræventive<br />

Råd) with the task of working within the frames of existing legislatures, for the prevention of<br />

crime. The background for establishing the council was a drastic rise in crime up through the<br />

1960s. At the same time a reform of the decentralised structures in the administration took<br />

place, in result of which several small municipalities were put together into large municipal<br />

units. Consequently there was a loss of social control, and an increased need to develop<br />

advice regarding method and co-ordination of crime prevention.<br />

Right from the beginning it was agreed that crime prevention should be based on broad social<br />

insight, knowledge and practical experience. For this reason the Council was structured as an<br />

assembly consisting of a number of nationwide private organisations and societies and public<br />

units of administration, which together constitute the Council´s highest authority “The<br />

Plenum”. Today more than 40 organisations and units of administration have a seat in the<br />

Council. An executive committee, at present 8 people, appointed by “The Plenum” makes<br />

ongoing decisions about general and principle questions, and about financial matters.<br />

The member organisations have appointed representatives who take part in specialised<br />

working groups, at present 5, which each concern themselves with strategic subjects within<br />

crime prevention:<br />

− The technical Security measures Committee, which <strong>works</strong> with advice as regards technical<br />

protection against crime.<br />

− The Strategy Committee, whose task it is to develop broad counselling to the citizens<br />

concerning behaviour and routines that can reduce the risk of falling victim to crime.<br />

− The <strong>Crime</strong> <strong>Prevention</strong> Information Committee, which is concerned with the role of crime<br />

prevetions in schools, institutions and clubs.<br />

− The Committee for <strong>Crime</strong> <strong>Prevention</strong> in Local Planning, which concerns itself with town<br />

and housing related strategies for well-being, sense of security and joint responsibility as<br />

crime prevention factors.<br />

− The SSP Committee (The committee for co-operation between Schools, Social services<br />

and the Police), whose task it is to develop patterns for the organisation of crime<br />

prevention in the municipalities and local communities.<br />

Once anually the committees hold a debate on a specific theme, as a result of which the<br />

executive committee together with the chairmen of the 5 specialist committees lay down the<br />

fundamental work themes for the Council´s work. The themes pointed out express fields with<br />

a special public need for crime penvention development.<br />

The Council’s work is co-ordinated by a secretariat put at its disposal by the National<br />

Commissioner of the Police. The staff has legal, police, social and educational training.<br />

Moreover, a nationwide network of contact persons has been built up in the secretariat. This<br />

213

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!