Situational Crime Prevention: Target Hardening and Designing Out Crime - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

12 original exam-style questions - 4 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

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This topic is chapter 10 of GCSE Sociology: Crime and deviance Practice Book.

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5.10 Situational Crime Prevention: Target Hardening and Designing Out Crime

AQA 8192 · about 50 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. For three of the longer short-answer questions write your response in full sentences as directed. The pack should take about 60 minutes.

Identify and explain one way improving lighting in a car park can both increase perceived risk for an offender and help evidence-gathering after an incident.

(Total for Question 1 is 2 marks)

State one example of how shops can use product display design to reduce theft, and briefly explain why it helps, referring to a high street shop.

(Total for Question 2 is 2 marks)

Identify one ethical concern that may arise from the use of widespread CCTV in public shopping centres, and give a brief reason why it is a concern.

(Total for Question 3 is 2 marks)

Identify and explain one reason why situational crime prevention measures at a single site might not reduce overall crime in a town centre.

(Total for Question 4 is 4 marks)

Which of the following best describes 'designing out' crime in an urban shopping centre?

A) Focusing police patrols on known hotspot streets
B) Changing the physical layout to increase visibility and reduce hiding places
C) Offering community crime awareness workshops
D) Increasing penalties for shoplifting in the courts

(Total for Question 5 is 1 mark)

Discuss how far situational crime prevention measures such as target hardening, CCTV and designing out crime are effective at reducing crime at specific sites like car parks and shopping centres. In your answer, consider at least two different types of measure, include strengths and limitations, and reach a supported judgement.

(Total for Question 6 is 12 marks)

Define the term 'situational crime prevention' as it is used when discussing crime at specific sites such as car parks and shops.

(Total for Question 7 is 2 marks)

Describe one way CCTV can reduce crime in a multi-storey car park, and one limitation of CCTV in this setting. Name the car park setting in your answer.

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Identify and explain one way the physical design of a car park can be changed to 'design out' opportunities for vehicle theft, referring to a specific feature you would change.

(Total for Question 9 is 2 marks)

Identify and explain two problems that might limit the effectiveness of target hardening measures such as alarms, shutters and heavy locks in a busy city centre shop.

(Total for Question 10 is 4 marks)

State one advantage of using electronic security tags on goods in a retail setting, and one possible disadvantage. Name the retail setting in your answer.

(Total for Question 11 is 2 marks)

Using the example of a shopping centre entrance, explain two ways that 'access control' as a designing out measure can reduce opportunistic crime.

(Total for Question 12 is 4 marks)

Mark scheme · 5.10 Situational Crime Prevention: Target Hardening and Designing Out Crime

Question 1

B1 identifies that better lighting increases visibility and perceived risk of being seen
B1 explains that lighting improves CCTV and witness ability, aiding identification and evidence after incidents
Answer: Better lighting increases visibility so offenders feel a higher risk of being seen, and it improves CCTV and witnesses ability to identify suspects, helping evidence-gathering after incidents.

Question 2

B1 states an example, e.g. keeping high-value items behind counters or in locked cabinets in a high street shop
B1 brief explanation, e.g. such placement reduces easy access and increases the effort and risk required to steal
Answer: In a high street shop, keeping high-value items behind counters or in locked cabinets reduces theft by restricting easy access and increasing the effort and risk required to steal them.

Question 3

B1 identifies an ethical concern, e.g. privacy and constant surveillance of shoppers
B1 gives a brief reason, e.g. it can make customers feel watched and raise questions about who controls footage and for what purpose
Answer: An ethical concern is privacy: constant CCTV surveillance can make shoppers feel watched and raises questions about who controls footage, how long it is kept and whether it is used appropriately.

Question 4

B1 identifies a reason, e.g. spatial displacement where offenders move to other, less well-protected locations
B1 explains spatial displacement, e.g. crime may shift to nearby streets or shops so the town centre's total crime does not fall
B1 identifies a second reason, e.g. limited scope of site-based measures for offences motivated by other factors
B1 explains the second reason, e.g. crimes driven by personal disputes or organised criminal networks may not be prevented by physical security alone
Answer: Site measures may cause spatial displacement, with offenders targeting less well-protected nearby locations so the town centre's total crime does not fall; also some crimes driven by personal disputes or organised networks are not prevented by physical security, so site measures have limited scope.

Question 5

B1 B (changing the physical layout to increase visibility and reduce hiding places)
Answer: B

Question 6

Level 1 (1-3): Basic statements about situational measures with limited development. May list measures or give one-sided points without evaluation or a supported judgement.
Level 2 (4-7): Clear explanation of how situational measures can reduce opportunity and increase perceived risk, with some evaluation. Includes at least one strength and one limitation and some attempt at a conclusion.
Level 3 (8-12): Detailed, balanced discussion of a range of situational measures, showing understanding of mechanisms (opportunity reduction, perceived risk) and limits such as displacement, ethical issues and costs. Uses specific examples and arrives at a supported, well-justified judgement.
Indicative content:
- Explain how target hardening (locks, shutters, security tags) increases effort and risk for offenders, reducing opportunistic theft at the site.
- Explain how CCTV increases perceived risk and aids evidence-gathering, and how its effectiveness depends on monitoring, lighting and maintenance.
- Explain designing out crime through layout changes, such as improving sightlines, reducing concealed areas, and controlling access points to increase natural surveillance.
- Consider strengths such as rapid, local reductions in opportunity, clear design interventions, and deterrence effects for opportunistic offenders.
- Consider limitations such as spatial displacement of crime to nearby softer targets, temporal displacement, the limited effect on motivated or organised offenders, and high costs or maintenance needs.
- Discuss ethical and social concerns like privacy from CCTV or the potential to make spaces feel less welcoming if over-fortified.
- Consider evidence that combining measures can be more effective than single measures, and that situational measures work best when part of a wider strategy but are limited if used alone.
- Reach a supported judgement weighing local benefits against limits like displacement and cost, for example saying situational measures are often effective at reducing opportunistic crime at a site but cannot alone eliminate crime across an area.

Question 7

B1 identifies that situational crime prevention aims to reduce opportunities for crime at particular places and times (oe)
B1 development, e.g. by increasing perceived risks and reducing rewards, or by target hardening and designing out crime
Answer: Situational crime prevention aims to reduce opportunities for crime at particular places and times by increasing perceived risks and reducing rewards, for example through target hardening and designing out crime.

Question 8

B1 describes a way CCTV can reduce crime in a car park, e.g. by increasing the chance offenders will be identified and caught
B1 development of that description, e.g. recorded footage can be used by police to identify suspects and act as a deterrent
B1 states a limitation of CCTV in a car park, e.g. CCTV has blind spots, poor lighting can reduce effectiveness, or it may only record rather than prevent
B1 development of the limitation, e.g. offenders may avoid cameras or footage may be unusable without good lighting and maintenance
Answer: In a multi-storey car park CCTV can reduce crime by increasing the chance offenders will be identified and caught, since recorded footage can be used by police and deters potential offenders. A limitation is that CCTV can have blind spots or poor lighting, reducing its effectiveness, and it may simply record crimes that still occur if not monitored or maintained.

Question 9

B1 identifies a design change and names a specific feature, e.g. improving sightlines by removing tall planters or reconfiguring bays
B1 explains how the change reduces opportunity, e.g. better sightlines increase natural surveillance and make it harder for thieves to work unseen
Answer: Improving sightlines by removing tall planters or reconfiguring parking bays increases natural surveillance, making it harder for thieves to work unseen and reducing opportunities for vehicle theft.

Question 10

B1 identifies one problem, e.g. displacement where crime moves to softer targets nearby
B1 explains that problem, e.g. burglars may target neighbouring shops with weaker security so overall crime is not reduced in the wider area
B1 identifies a second problem, e.g. cost and practicality, such as expensive installation and maintenance
B1 explains the second problem, e.g. small businesses may be unable to afford measures or may not maintain them, reducing long term effectiveness
Answer: Problems include displacement, where burglars target nearby shops with weaker security so crime moves rather than falls, and cost and practicality, since expensive installation and maintenance may be unaffordable for small businesses and measures may not be kept working.

Question 11

B1 states an advantage with setting, e.g. in a high street clothing store tags deter theft and alarm at exits
B1 states a disadvantage, e.g. tags can be expensive and may inconvenience paying customers or require staff time to remove
Answer: In a high street clothing store, electronic security tags deter theft and trigger alarms at exits; a disadvantage is they can be costly and may slow checkout if staff must remove tags, inconveniencing customers.

Question 12

B1 identifies one access control measure, e.g. restricting entrances to a shopping centre or installing gated entries
B1 explains how it reduces opportunity, e.g. fewer entrance points make it easier to monitor people and spot suspicious behaviour
B1 identifies a second access control measure, e.g. timed automatic barriers or controlled vehicle entry
B1 explains how the second reduces opportunity, e.g. barriers stop quick drive-off thefts and slow entry, increasing chance of detection
Answer: Restricting entrances or installing gated entries reduces opportunity by making the shopping centre easier to monitor and by concentrating pedestrian flow where staff or cameras can watch. Timed barriers or controlled vehicle entry prevent quick drive-off thefts and slow access, increasing the chance of detection.

Situational Crime Prevention: Target Hardening and Designing Out Crime - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

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5.10 Situational Crime Prevention: Target Hardening and Designing Out Crime

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