UCL Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science

What is Crime Science?

Crime Science is a new approach to get ahead of crime, rather than relying on the criminal justice system which can only be invoked after crimes have been committed. Crime follows predictable patterns. For example, acquisitive crimes like stealing are largely an economic activity. They tend to rise in line with a nation's wealth. This is because there is more to steal (such as cars, mobile phones and credit cards) but correspondingly little thought has been given by designers and marketers to ' thievability' . Some products provoke far more crime than others and have a predictable life-cycle of criminal involvement. Once we understand crime patterns we can intervene more intelligently and effectively. Moreover, wealth has created far more opportunities for crime than in the past because of factors such as anonymity, mobility and the internet. Crime Science seeks smart ways to mitigate the dangers without removing the advantages and freedoms.

Thus Crime Science systematically analyses crime patterns to remove opportunities which make crime possible. It redesigns shops to reduce shoplifting, creates security features for credit cards to cut fraud, trains police analysts to head off trends in burglaries or other crimes, designs protocols to cut rowdyism and violence in clubs and pubs, explores the tools and techniques used by terrorists so they can be thwarted in the future, and works with the police, public authorities and business community to apply best practice. It is driven by the science of what works rather than the politics of emotion or gut feeling, and it combines the best of several different established disciplines including Architecture, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design, Economics, Engineering, Epidemiology, Geography, Material Sciences, Physics, Psychology, Statistics, and Town Planning, along with some of the more scientifically rigorous aspects of Criminology.

It focuses on practical crime reduction rather than on theory. It is open to the general public, to undergraduates and researchers, and advises civil servants, local government officials, business people, journalists and others, as well as providing a powerful interdisciplinary resource for the police.

In short, Crime Science makes crime less tempting, harder to commit, and harder to get away with.

Why University College London ?

UCL was chosen because of its world-class reputation with outstanding research ratings across a broad range of disciplines and which attracts international talent across many disciplines. From its earliest days UCL has challenged limitations on academic endeavour. It was the first university to teach physics, chemistry, biology and geography and was equally enthusiastic about Crime Science. As well as its groundbreaking role in the sciences it was the first English university to offer the systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine, and founded the first professorships of English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Egyptology and Geography.

Who runs the JDI?

The first Director of the Jill Dando Institute is Prof Gloria Laycock. She had previously worked at the UK Home Office, the US Department of Justice and the Australian Institute of Criminology in Canberra .

Why are more funds needed

The Institute has already established world-class credentials in its field. But crime science is in its infancy. If we are to conquer crime effectively it needs more resources to grow into world-class scale. We seek named endowments for private individuals who wish to support the Jill Dando Institute, with scope to contribute powerfully to cutting crime and build a substantial global reputation for social reform. We plan to create an international centre to design out crime potential from buildings, products and services; to endow a chair in Crime Science; and dedicate a building for teaching and international research.

The Jill Dando Institute is an international centre with staff from the US, Australia and elsewhere. It aims to ensure that the police in Britain become the best informed, but also that the Crime Science approach is available in every country so that communities everywhere have the information and techniques to drive down crime to make life safer for us all.

How to help us do more.

Contributions should be made to The Jill Dando Fund and sent to:

The Jill Dando Fund, LloydsTSB, 50 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JD

For large private donations, corporate or trust fund endowments, gifts or bequests please contact The Development Office at:-

University College London , Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Telephone: +44 [0] 20 7679 9733 or email: campaign@ucl.ac.uk

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Crime Science Series publications are available from Willan Publishing

To view titles click here

Other
JDI publications available from Willan:

Secure and Tranquil Travel Preventing Crime and Disorder on Public Transport

Crime-free Housing in the 21st Century

Become a Problem-Solving Crime Analyst (in 55 small steps)