1. 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

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

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

4. 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,…

5. b. Set up and theoretical frame
Development of a frameworks/models to assess vulnerability of economic sectors:
: 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)
: (more) inductive approach – definition & indicators from fieldwork: horeca (2011) and transport (2011)

6. c. Vulnerability 2003

7. d. Vulnerability 2011

8. 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 »

9. 3. Triangles and other geometrical figures
Felson
Crime scripting

10. 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)

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

12. d. Kritieken

13. d. Kritieken
offender
target/victim
guardian
place

14. 5b. Risk, threat, harm and vulnerability
THREAT (criminals)
RISK VULNERABILITY (environment)
HARM (society)

15. 3. Tweede generatie kwetsbaarheidsanalyses

16. a. Kwetsbaarheid anders geconceptualiseerd

17. b1. Toepassingen: transport?

18. b2. Toepassingen: horeca

19. 4. Enkele conclusies