Resources for developing evidence-based crime prevention initiatives

The most effective crime prevention initiatives are those grounded in a strong evidence base. This doesn’t mean there is no room for innovation, but your initiative should have a strong theory of change – why do you think it will work?

A number of online resources and useful websites provide information on evidence-based crime prevention projects to help you develop a strong grant application. Before accessing these websites, it will be useful to think through the aims of your project, for example:

• What problem are you trying to solve?
• Is your intervention aimed at individuals, families or communities?
• Are there particular groups you are targeting for support such as young people, women, older people, or those with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds?
• Is your problem best addressed using community, situational, developmental or law enforcement crime prevention approaches, or a mix of these?

The department also has criminology and community safety experts on hand who can provide you with advice on particular crime issues or problem locations. To contact the team, email communitycrimeprevention@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)

Resources are also available on the Crime Prevention website to support grant applicants in developing projects, including factsheets on:

• Applying a placemaking approach
• Gender-sensitive design
• Designing better lighting
• Common situational crime prevention techniques
• Risk & protective factors
• Featured projects