Comments on: Crime in Barcelona

By: wordman

wordman — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:50:48 +0000

Yes, but that doesn’t answer my question. What would happen (i.e. what kind of incentives are generated) when a civilian population starts using decoys with die packs against purse snatchers? Or, if you like, how many are needed, and for how long, to create a negative incentive strong enough to, say, cut purse snatching in half.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:57:17 +0000

Wordman, it’s all about incentives and costs. For the criminal, that likelihood of being caught and then punished. For the police, it’s about which is more work and risk: catching a pickpocket or a ticket jumper? There were lots of cops checking tickets.

By: wordman

wordman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:59:15 +0000

Having seen the street crime in Barcelona, I always wondered what really _would_ work as a deterrent. As an example, suppose you had civilian “decoys” walking around with packs intended to be stolen, filled with die packs or worse. Would that decrease street crime? If so, how long would it take? if not, why not?

By: SalvadorLF

SalvadorLF — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:51:03 +0000

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By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:59:51 +0000

It’s not a trade; it’s a debt relationship. The loss of privacy is immediate; the reduction in crime happens over time. I think an appropriately pithy quote should reflect this. Something like “A loan of security upon the collateral of privacy always ends in default.”

By: Nicko

Nicko — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:50:33 +0000

Someone should come up with a pithy quip about those who trade privacy for a little promised security.
How about “Those who trade privacy for a little promised security will probably end up with neither, and neither will anyone else”?