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William Bratton, Police Chief

When William Bratton was police chief in New York and LA he oversaw a fall in crime. His idea was to crack down on minor crimes in the belief that then other crime would fall too.

"Policing was slow to recognise that you needed to deal not only with the serious crime but you needed to weed the garden. It's easier to control social behaviour than it is when these people have become confirmed criminals."

When William Bratton was police chief in New York and Los Angeles he oversaw a hefty fall in crime.

His big idea was to crack down on minor crimes such as fare evasion, gangs on corners, drinking alchohol in public and graffiti, in the belief that then other crime would decrease as well.

He tells Owen Bennett Jones how it worked.

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28 minutes

Last on

Mon 24 Jan 2011 04:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 22 Jan 2011 10:32GMT
  • Sat 22 Jan 2011 19:32GMT
  • Sun 23 Jan 2011 07:32GMT
  • Sun 23 Jan 2011 14:32GMT
  • Mon 24 Jan 2011 04:32GMT

91热爆 World Service Archive

This programme was restored as part of the World Service archive project