NCJ Number
61860
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE RATIONALE AND ROLE OF INSURERS IN AIDING CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO INTERNATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.
Abstract
THE PROFITS OF INSURANCE ORGANIZATIONS DEPEND UPON GAINING THE BUSINESS OF A LARGE VOLUME OF CLIENTS WHO ARE ACCEPTABLE RISKS. AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES CAN BOTH INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS FALLING INTO THE ACCEPTABLE RISK CATEGORY AND PERMIT REDUCED PREMIUMS THAT CAN ATTRACT MORE CLIENTS. IN ADDITION, CONCERN WITH CRIME PREVENTION IS AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC RELATIONS TOOL FOR INSURANCE ORGANIZATIONS. INSURERS HAVING PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN CRIME PREVENTION BASED ON CLAIMS ARE WILLING TO COOPERATE WITH RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT BODIES TO FORMULATE STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS. CONSENSUS AND STANDARDIZATION IN CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES IS AN AID TO THE INSURING PROCESS. IN REQUIRING THAT CERTAIN CRIME PREVENTION CRITERIA BE MET IN ORDER FOR A CLIENT TO BE INSURED OR QUALIFY FOR A CERTAIN PREMIUM RATE, THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITY ARE RELEVANT: (1) ORGANIZATIONAL MEASURES AND BEHAVIORAL ATTITUDES (REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INSURED, SUCH AS LOCKING DOORS, LIMITING CONCENTRATION OF VALUES, USE OF VAULTS, ETC). (2) ERECTING PHYSICAL BARRIERS (I.E, INSTALLING LOCKS, BOLTS, AND LATCHES), AND (3) USE OF DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS. IN THE INTEREST OF DEVELOPING AN INTERNATIONAL MARKET, INSURANCE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN AN INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS FOR CRIME PREVENTION. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)