EVIDENCE-BASED CRIME PREVENTION: INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND COMPARATIVE GOOD PRACTICES

Abstract

This article examines the international normative framework and comparative good practices underpinning evidence-based crime prevention. Over the past two decades, crime prevention has evolved from a predominantly reactive, enforcement-centred activity into a multidimensional field of public governance that integrates strategic analysis, criminal intelligence, human rights safeguards, and cross-sectoral cooperation. The study first reconstructs the common normative basis developed by the United Nations, INTERPOL, Europol, CEPOL, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the OECD, highlighting their shared emphasis on prevention, interagency coordination, accountability, and the responsible use of emerging technologies. It then analyses five national models — Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Estonia, and Canada — selected to illustrate differing degrees of institutional maturity within both unitary and federal systems. The comparative analysis reveals a marked convergence around several core attributes: clear legislative mandates, shared responsibility between central and local authorities, systematic use of data and evaluation, and meaningful community participation. The article concludes that the effectiveness and sustainability of crime prevention depend less on the form of government than on the coherence of institutions, the quality of available data, and the capacity of public authorities to generate, interpret, and apply knowledge throughout the policy cycle. The findings offer a comparative benchmark relevant to reforming national prevention frameworks.