The concept known as ‘Broken windows’ was developed in 1982 by social scientists Wilson and Kelling, building on the earlier work of psychologist Zimbardo. Their argument was that visible signs of urban decay and neglect, such as broken windows and graffiti, if unaddressed, led to more serious crimes. The idea gained popularity with New York City police in the 1990s under the influence of mayor Rudy Giuliani, who wanted a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards vandalism and petty crimes.
The idea of a crackdown against certain types of offence, and (importantly) those thought most likely to commit them, has subsequently influenced policing policy beyond the USA. It gave rise to policies such as ‘Stop and Search’ which have been disproportionately used against members of minority ethnic groups. The often highly aggressive form of policing associated with a zero-tolerance policy has resulted in fatalities, including that of African-American George Floyd, whose death at police hands led to the Black Lives Matter movement.
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