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Reflections on applying behavioural insights to crime: a guide for behavioural scientists and criminologists in search of policy unicorns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2023

Matthew Davies Open the ORCID record for Matthew Davies [Opens in a new window]  and
Simon Ruda
Matthew Davies*
Affiliation:
New Zealand Department of Corrections, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand Home Affairs, Security and International Development, Behavioural Insights Team, London, UK
Simon Ruda
Affiliation:
Home Affairs, Security and International Development, Behavioural Insights Team, London, UK Strategic Insights Unit, Metropolitan Police Service, London, UK
*
Corresponding author: Matthew Davies, Email: matthewwilliamdavies@gmail.com
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Abstract

Behavioural science has made significant contributions to public policy over the last decade from tax compliance to pensions and energy use. However, behavioural insights (BI) have not yet been able to claim significant policy shifts in the area of crime, despite increasing interest and experimentation. This paper offers a critical reflection on the state of BI and crime from the perspective of those who have been at the forefront of this work since the inception of the world's first behavioural science team in government. We outline how existing theories of crime have already laid foundations for the successful application of BI but identify opportunities to build on these with tools from behavioural science. We conclude by examining how continued cross-pollination of ideas between BI and disciplines such as applied criminology points to promising directions for future research.

Keywords

behavioural sciencebehavioural insightsbehavioural economicsnudgingsituational crime prevention
Type
Article
Information
Behavioural Public Policy , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , July 2023 , pp. 744 - 757
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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