Hot Spot Policing (Essay Sample)

Hot Spot Policing
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Hot Spot Policing
Hot Spot Policing intends to disrupt criminals by concentrating deterrents of offending in high crime areas. It involves strategies that focus on small geographic areas or places, typically urban environments where crime is highly concentrated. Law enforcement agencies can focus limited resources in areas with a high possibility of crime occurring by utilizing hot spots policing strategies. The practice of hot spot policing has proved efficient in decreasing overall crime in target areas.
The concept of hot products in law enforcement describes highly targeted items by thieves. The hot products are usually removable, concealable, valuable, available, disposable, and enjoyable (Smith, 2003). This phrase defines a wide range of personal products, including cash, mobile phones, credit cards, purses, wallets, unique accessories, handbags and briefcases.
The acronym CRAVED describes the most stolen goods. These are Concealable (C), Removable (R), Available (A), Valuable (V), Enjoyable (E), and Disposable (D). Concealable refers to those items that can be hidden in bags and pockets, which are more vulnerable to sneak thieves and shoplifters. Removable refers to mobile objects such as bikes, cars, laptops, and computers easily stolen and carried away. Available represents desirable items that are easy to find since they are easily available at a higher risk of debt, including jewelry, cash, and old cars. Valuable denotes valuable items that thieves target because they are expensive, especially when stealing to sell. Enjoyable represents hot products that are often enjoyable that thieves steal to own or consume, including DVDs, television, liquor, tobacco, and many more. Disposable defines those things that are easy to sell, which thieves often target. Disposable items include batteries and disposable razors that are frequently stolen from American drug stores.
The acronym VIVA refers to the value, inertia, visibility, and accessibility, which make a target suitable for the offender. It implies a limit on the number of available targets that the offender views as convenient or attractive. VIVA is tied to the routine activities theory requiring three elements to be present for the occurrence of a crime (Wright, Brookman, & Bennett, 2006). These three elements include an offender motivated by criminal intentions, the presence of a suitable target or victim, and the nonexistence of a competent guardian to prevent the crime from occurring. A crime occurs when these elements converge in space and time (Wright, Brookman, & Bennett, 2006). From this perspective, the routine activities that individuals participate in during the day or night make some more susceptible than others. They are more vulnerable because a rationally calculating offender sees them as more suitable targets. In this respect, crime is considered typical and relies on existing opportunities to offend, including the daily patterns of social interactions.
While hot spot policing is intended to displace crimes, it is more likely to generate crime prevention benefits that disperse into the nearby areas adjacent to the targeted locations rather than replacing offences. As a result, hot spot policing only reduces an insignificant level of crime in areas with high levels of criminal activi