Abstract

Crime prevention is strongly promoted in many countries’ police organizations. However, lack of a clear, agreed definition of the concept could impede its effective implementation. This study addresses associated problems by exploring 15 Swedish police officers’ understanding and definitions of crime-preventive work to characterize their translation of the official definition of crime prevention into operational practice. It was found that the participants had highly heterogeneous understanding and translation of crime prevention but broadly recognized that it consisted of preventing the occurrence, continuation and/or repetition of crime. They also recognized four key types of activities: collaboration, fostering constructive community relations, increasing risks of crime detection and deterrence and cause analysis. The results highlight needs for more coherent definitions of crime prevention and associated strategies to avoid the diversity of interpretations hindering the implementation, evaluation and improvement of crime prevention efforts.