There has been a constant debate on whether
crime
prevention
is the responsibility of the
government
, or whether it is an individual's burden. In
this
essay, I will elaborate on both views and give my personal opinion on
this
matter.
On the one hand, some people believe that the
prevention
of criminals is the
government
's responsibility. It is true that
governments
have much more authority than normal citizens.
Governments
hold the authority to create and enforce laws, regulate societal behaviour, and manage public resources, ensuring order and stability. They
also
possess the power to levy taxes, provide public services, and represent the state in international relations.
Thus
, it is obvious that
governments
ought to be responsible for
crime
prevention
.
For example
, the
government
once used their power to implement curfews during the 2020 protests in several U.S. cities,
as a result
, the number of reported looting cases dropped by over 60% in the days following its implementation in Los Angeles.
On the other hand
, others hold the opinion that individuals should be in charge of
crime
reduction. It has become a fact that
governments
do not have the capability to always know information about
crime
, especially in small towns. Since individuals are the ones who know their surroundings well, they should contribute to
crime
prevention
with their knowledge.
For instance
, a report by the U.S. Department of Justice found that watch programs, programmes established by residents in a neighbourhood, can reduce
crime
by up to 16%, particularly in areas with high rates of burglary.
This
demonstrates the tangible impact that individuals, working together, can have in deterring criminal activities.
In conclusion,
while
both sides have valid reasons for their demonstration, I stand in between them. The
government
has the authority needed to apply policies,
while
the community has better knowledge about their neighbourhood. I believe that
crime
prevention
has long been a challenging task and requires the effort, teamwork and contribution of both the
government
and the residents.