Environmental Impact
Crime trends often follow consumer trends; those products that are seen as most desirable and ‘hot’ are those that are stolen most regularly (Design Council, 2008). These products are replaced, increasing consumption of resources and speeding up the associated negative ecological impacts.
The same applies to criminal damage and even illegal ‘spamming’ which has a significant carbon footprint; according to a Microsoft security report, 97 per cent of all emails sent are unwanted. The solvents used in graffiti removal and the mechanised collection of litter both impact negatively on the environment. Additionally, some crimes are themselves targeted at the environment, ranging from the illegal dumping of waste to the trading of endangered species.
As fear of crime increases so do people’s reliance on security devices, such as car or burglar alarms. These use resources to manufacture and run, yet their use could be minimised by considering crime as part of the design process.