Crime Prevention

Crime prevention refers to the measures taken to reduce the likelihood of criminal activity. This can include a range of measures, such as community programs, education initiatives, and law enforcement efforts. The goal of crime prevention is to create a safer and more secure society for everyone. There are many different approaches to crime prevention, and the most effective strategies are often those that are tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of a community. Some common crime prevention techniques include:

  • Community policing: This involves law enforcement agencies working closely with community members to identify and address potential crime hotspots. This can include everything from neighborhood watch programs to more formal partnerships between law enforcement and community organization
  • Environmental design: This approach focuses on designing physical environments in a way that makes them less conducive to criminal activity. This can include things like installing streetlights, improving natural surveillance, and redesigning public spaces to reduce opportunities for crime
  • Social programs: Crime prevention can also involve providing support and resources to at-risk individuals and communities. This can include things like job training programs, youth centers, and mental health service
  • Education and awareness: Raising awareness about the dangers of criminal activity and providing education about how to prevent crime can be an effective crime prevention strategy. This can include things like public service announcements, school programs, and community outreach effort

Overall, the key to effective crime prevention is to take a comprehensive and coordinated approach that involves multiple stakeholders and is tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the community.

Traffickers abusing online technology, UN crime prevention agency warns  
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Traffickers abusing online technology, UN crime prevention agency warns  

Research conducted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows how victims are being targeted and recruited via social media and online dating platforms, where personal information and details of people’s locations are readily available. 

The Role of Technology in Human Trafficking
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The Role of Technology in Human Trafficking

Vienna (Austria) 14 October 2021 – Human traffickers who trick people with fake job offers and promises and then exploit them for profit are taking advantage of online technologies for every step of their criminal activities. Research conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows how victims are being targeted and recruited…

FROM THE FIELD: Trafficked teenager advocates for women’s rights in Central America
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FROM THE FIELD: Trafficked teenager advocates for women’s rights in Central America

Maxwell Matewere, a Malawian crime prevention expert with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has been active in the anti-human trafficking field for more than two decades. Today, he trains officials throughout Malawi to prevent and combat this crime: this year alone, despite COVID-19 restrictions, his work has led to the rescue of around three hundred human trafficking victims and 31 arrests.  

First Person: Fighting human trafficking in Malawi
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First Person: Fighting human trafficking in Malawi

I was a young, recent law graduate when I first experienced the horrors of human trafficking. It was in 1998. I was working for a human rights NGO and attending a workshop in South Africa. A taxi driver told me about two girls from my home country who worked in a bar in Johannesburg. He was very concerned about them.