Drivers of crime
Drivers of crime refers to the underlying causes of criminal offending and victims' experiences of crime. It recognises that certain circumstances of people's lives are associated with a greater likelihood of offending and victimisation.
What are the drivers of crime?
The underlying drivers of crime represent the most difficult problems in our society today - stemming from risk factors within family, community and educational environments.
The underlying drivers of crime are inter-related, yet many services are focused on dealing with a single issue. For example, special education needs or substance abuse.
Addressing the Drivers of Crime involves:
- a shared responsibility across a range of government agencies and service providers
- a focus on improved value for money through better co-ordinated, better targeted and more effective services and programmes
- a particular focus on improving outcomes for Māori
- providing the right services, at the right time, to the people most in need of them.
The Government's approach:
strengthening families and communities
reducing the impact of the facilitators and contributors to crime
delivering effective justice.
Effective response
Co-ordinated Drivers of Crime action is targeted at:
- early prevention
- treatment for specific needs related to offending
- justice sector responses that reduce re-offending.
In this section
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Working together: New approaches to inter-agency work is addressing gaps and improving service.
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Who is involved: The range of agencies and government departments involved with Drivers of Crime.
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Four priority areas: Current progress and background information on the different priority areas.
- Publications and background information: Useful resources, Cabinet papers and background data.
- Drivers of Crime Ministerial meeting: Speeches, reports and public submissions on the set up of Drivers of Crime in 2009.
