Vulnerability of the economy and guardianship Tom Vander Beken 11th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology – Rethinking crime and punishment in Europe Panel Session New developments in guardianship research Vilnius 23 September 2011

Overview Vulnerability studies Convergence and guardians and complex crimes Triangles and other geometry Conclusies

1. Vulnerability studies Background Set up and theoretical frame Vulnerability 2003 Vulnerability 2011

a. Background Organised crime assessments and their focus on perpetrators and what they do – strong law enforcement bias – backward looking/prevention Choice for a more environmental approach: vulnerabilities in the task environment of (organised) crime provide opportunies for crime – focus on the economic environment (organised crime as profit driven crime). Theoretical background of the studies vague: opportunity studies in general – inspired by the work of Albanese (high risk business conditions), Ruggiero, Levi & Naylor, Reuter,…

b. Set up and theoretical frame Development of a frameworks/models to assess vulnerability of economic sectors: 2003-2005: deductive approach – criminological indicators/economical information: diamonds (2003), European transport (2005), European waste disposal (2005), European music sector, European farmaceutical sector, fashion Milan (2007), taxi Netherlands (2007) 2. 2008-2011: (more) inductive approach – definition & indicators from fieldwork: horeca (2011) and transport (2011)

c. Vulnerability 2003

d. Vulnerability 2011

2. Convergence and guardians and complex crimes Fraud, trafficking,…? Convergence space and time: Quid complex crimes? Target/victim: Consensual crimes, changing targets? Victim-offenders-facilitators? Guardian: Complex/organised crime? « incapable guardianship »

3. Triangles and other geometrical figures Felson Crime scripting

a. Felson “The routine activity approach is not doctrinaire. I think we should begin with the simplest model and the simplest crimes, then elaborate. Like math starting with points, then lines, then areas. Squares then rectangles then trapezoids.” (Felson, 2011)

b. Crime scripting Different guardians at different points in time?

d. Kritieken

d. Kritieken offender target/victim guardian place

5b. Risk, threat, harm and vulnerability THREAT (criminals) RISK VULNERABILITY (environment) HARM (society)

3. Tweede generatie kwetsbaarheidsanalyses

a. Kwetsbaarheid anders geconceptualiseerd

b1. Toepassingen: transport ?

b2. Toepassingen: horeca

4. Enkele conclusies