NCJ Number
190172
Date Published
November 2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This briefing note from Great Britain's Home Office considers the crime and disorder implications of Section 17 of the British 1998 Crime and Disorder Act.
Abstract
The 1998 Crime and Disorder Act places an obligation on local authorities and the police to cooperate in the development and implementation of a strategy for countering crime and disorder. Section 17 was conceived primarily as an "enabling device" for the promotion of effective crime reduction in the daily activities of police and local authorities. Its relevance, however, was unclear. This note is aimed primarily at local authority members, practitioners, and managers. It will also be of interest to other groups covered by Section 17, i.e., police authorities, National Park Authorities, and the Broads Authority. The content of this note complements other practical guides on implementing Section 17, including the recent Crime Concern Guide, "Mainstreaming Community Safety," which identifies how Section 17 fits in with the modernization of local government and various practical ways of implementing Section 17. Based on a review of criminological literature, this note identifies the types of local authority functions and services that can have an impact on the levels of crime and disorder. It also examines relevant case law to identify the possible legal implications of Section 17 and offers recommendations about how to meet these obligations. The note recommends that local authorities review all services to assess the crime and disorder implications of their work and act accordingly. Further, local authorities should recognize that community safety is likely to affect the work of all departments. Decisions made by one department could well have crime and disorder implications for the work of another department. 14 references