1. Sam J Cole Institute of Criminology University of Cambridge
Explaining Crime Variations Across the City:
Methodologies for Capturing Socially Cohesive Neighbourhood Processes

4. Neighbourhood Crime Rates
Sampson, Raudenbush and Earl’s (1997) ‘Collective Efficacy Theory’
Collective Efficacy
Social cohesion
Social control
Neighbourhood Crime Rates

5. Shift from residents’ perceptions…
to what they will do in practice

6. ‘Lost’ Letters
375 stamp-addressed letters were “lost” in sampled neighbourhood clusters across Peterborough, U.K.

7. Residents sees stamp-addressed letter on pavement
Post letter?
Active measure of social cohesion – care for others
Active measure of social control– intervene to help
Inactive measure of social cohesion – lack of care
Inactive measure of social control – unwilling to help No
Yes

8. Percentage return rate
Collective Efficacy Score Quintiles

10. Forecast the effectiveness of intervention
Micro-level allocation of resources where needed most
Better understand how people may react to crime in settings
Lost-letters can take the ‘pulse’ of neighbourhood social processes
Negates problem of low response rates
Dynamic measure capable of capturing action
Sustainable cities require:
Social Cohesion
Social Altruism

11. Thank you Sam J Cole PADS+ Institute of Criminology
University of Cambridge