Crime prevention is a long-term investment in public safety, trust, and social cohesion — one that requires far more than reactive law enforcement. Successful prevention depends not only on structures and tools, but also on institutional change, partnership-based decision-making, and community consent, informed by cultural context and human rights considerations, including robust oversight mechanisms.
To support this approach, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), in partnership with the Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Chairs Program for the Development of Crime Prevention Methods in the Training Fields at Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), has developed the guidance document Preventative Policing in Practice: Guidance on Developing and Implementing a Crime Prevention Approach.
Drawing on international good practices, the guidance document presents a practical framework for designing, implementing, and sustaining a preventative approach to crime. It introduces six interrelated pillars of crime prevention: community engagement, intelligence, physical security, environmental design, situational problem solving, and technical solutions, highlighting the importance of applying them in an integrated manner, tailored to local crime patterns, risks, and social contexts.
The guidance document also outlines governance arrangements at the national, regional, and local levels, emphasizing institutional coordination, professional development, community engagement, and respect for human rights. Designed for policymakers, law enforcement authorities and partner organizations, it provides a flexible and adaptable reference that can be applied across different legal systems, institutional capacities, and cultural contexts to strengthen sustainable crime prevention efforts.
The guidance document is the result of a collaborative research and consultation process. Its development was informed by a workshop hosted by NAUSS and enriched by contributions from experts and practitioners, including reviewers from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
