Prof. Martin Gill: I’m Not the Greatest Criminality Expert – Criminals are!

How do offenders tackle security? With not much concern, it would seem, if Professor Gill’s word is anything to go by.

Unless …

Professor Martin Gill is the Director of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International (PRCI) and a Professor of Criminology at the University of Leicester. He has just delivered a fascinating keynote to delegates of this year’s IFSEC International at the Tavcom Training Theatre.

Tackling the question ‘How do offenders tackle security measures?’ he delivered his message at a rollicking pace in a series of stories recounting his conversations with offenders.

Mr Bank Robber, how do we prevent a bank robbery?

Professor first recounted to his audience the story of when he asked a bank robber how to prevent a bank robbery – much to the bank robber’s surprise, as you might imagine. In all his years of being interviewed, this was the first time anyone had asked him that question.

Why aren’t we asking offenders these types of questions, he wonders? We should be tapping into their source of knowledge.

We should, he suggested, tap this rich seam of insider knowledge with questions like: why did you choose that target? What made it difficult?

What planning did you undertake? What risks were there?

Did you know of these risks in advance? If you could do it again what would you do differently?

These are important questions. You have to listen to what offenders have to say, because by and large, they are the experts – more so than Professor Martin Gill himself.

It’s argued that offenders are not necessarily experts because they have been caught. But, says Gill, the vast majority succeed most of the time.

Why that target?

Another great question to ask an offender. Why that target? Because it was easy, is invariably the response.

How could this be, when there are security measures in place?

A few years ago he was interviewing prolific priority offenders (PPO) – offenders who commit repeatedly. This particular PPO was A 17-year-old female burglar.

Asked how she proceeded, she simply said: “I go thought the front door. I go though open doors – I go into estates and look for an open door.” This particular PPO committed four offences per day.

Why that target? Because it was easy!

One of the most interesting things about offenders is how they perceive risk. On one occasion, Gill sent an ex-offender into a Tesco store with a camera and asked him to describe examples of what and how he would shoplift.

The store manager was aware of the exercise and was certain that the security guard at the entrance would deter the would-be criminal. But when the ex-offender came to leaving the store and saw the security guard, he said into the camera: “Well, well, well. What a bit of luck. A big, fat git I can outrun!”

He wasn’t looking for a fight. He was looking for a quick getaway. Because it was easy!

How do offenders react to security screens?

Gill asked a former bank robber if he knew there were security screens in the bank and if so, would the fact effect the robbery. He was told a very definite yes. How so? I only rob banks with security screens.

As an offender, there are two common things that are being thought about when committing a robbery. 1. Get the money. 2. Don’t get caught!

The best way to get the money and get out of the situation without being caught is by taking control of the environment, says Gill. And the best way to do this is to make sure that people – overenthusiastic staff members – are kept out of the way. And screens keep them out of the way. As a robber, you don’t want any heroics.

How do offenders react to CCTV?

In his experience interviewing and observing criminal behaviour, Gill has learnt that offenders are not easily put off by CCTV. They find it to be a manageable risk, unless it is done well.

As well as a deterrent, CCTV is supposed to be held up in court as admissible evidence, but criminals are able to wear a disguise. You will also find that reoffenders may have committed many crimes, but never once seen the footage. But most of the time, the quality of the footage is so poor that it’s hard to prove its them!

The industry’s worst kept secret

However, security measures do work, argues Gill, but only when done well.

Over time, there has been a reduction in crime levels across the developed world. Criminologists all over the world studying the phenomenon believe the single most factor driving this trend is good security.

Gill is drawing his talk to a conclusion. He tells his audience one final story. He was in a cell interviewing 10 convicted murderers. On the day you committed the murder, he asked, would CCTV have had an impact on whether or not you would have followed through. All but one had the same reply. No, because at that moment they were in such a state of rage that they had lost it completely.

But the 10th interviewee had this story to tell. He had gone into an off licence to steal a bottle of spirits. When he was caught by the manager he hit him over the head and instantly killed the man. He was caught 3 days later and when accused of murder he was in denial – I could not believe I was a violent person. But what he saw on CCTV changed his mind. He had been so drunk at the time that the memory had escaped him.

CCTV to an offender might not be a big deal, but CCTV done well is a very big deal to an offender.

Gill concludes that with this knowledge and the impact that security is having on crime levels, the industry trend has gone from knowing that there is the need for security to a heightened awareness of the need for quality in security.