HIGH FLYERS THINK TANK
Safeguarding Australia
4 April 2003
A perspective from the Australian Institute of Criminology
by Dr Toni Makkai
The four ingredients of crime and terrorism are:
- a motivated offender
- a prospective victim or target
- an opportunity
- the absence of capable guardians.
Crime can be prevented by reducing the supply of motivated offenders, reducing opportunities and making crime harder to commit. Investment in child development can reduce the supply of offenders. Opportunities can be reduced through town planning, building design. Fraud and other economic threats can be controlled by regulation and the creation of a compliance culture.
Research in social science can enhance the social fabric and respect for the rule of law. Declining trust in social institutions has produced fertile ground for offenders.
Social norms and values help regulate the conduct of people. Social science can also assess and communicate risks, helping to manage the fear of crime.
Domains that need safeguarding are homes, neighbourhoods, workplaces, economic and financial institutions, and national borders.
Border threats include the smuggling of arms, drugs and people, identity fraud, internet fraud and globalisation, which breaks down borders. But the focus on borders should not dominate our responses – terrorists don't always come from elsewhere. We need social infrastructure in local communities.
Who determines risks? Who is at risk? How are risks perceived and measured? Understanding the psychology, sociology, geography and politics of risk is a key component of the nation's response to terrorism. It is critical that the findings of science and technology are clearly communicated to the community, politicians and government officials.
More on the Australian Institute of Criminology and its research is available at www.aic.gov.au.
