The goal of crime prevention is to decrease crime and increase security, but also to prevent harm caused by crime. There are different ways to prevent crime and many actors can participate in decreasing safety and security. The National Crime Prevention Programme (2016-2020) aims to improve local crime prevention and to promote the participation of residents in local activities.
Crime prevention refers to a broad set of long-term activities taken to reduce the risk of crimes, disruptive behaviour and becoming a victim of crime. These activities may be carried out by a range of actors, such as authorities, businesses, non-governmental organisations and residents. Very different approaches may be applied in the crime prevention efforts. For example, better design of the built environment, utilisation of technical equipment, provision of support for children and families, intervention in the situation of young people at risk, and increasing the sense of community and neighbourhood help are possible and viable ways to prevent crime.
Crime prevention measures are planned and implemented by the National Council for Crime Prevention, which functions under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice. The key priorities in the Council’s activities are the promotion of cooperation in crime prevention matters and dissemination of information on the effective methods for preventing crime. The responsibility for measures that aim to reduce recidivism rests with the Criminal Sanctions Agency.
