Website: Crime prevention and crime policy

One of the many results of the second Council of Europe summit was increased cooperation to protect citizens from crime. A coherent and rational crime policy, based on respect for human rights and the rule of law and directed towards crime prevention (social and situational), individualisation, the promotion of alternatives to custodial sentences, the social reintegration of offenders and the provision of assistance to victims, is needed in this connection.

To promote the development of such a policy in its member states the Council of Europe has adopted a number of legal instruments. The last such instrument is a recommendation on early psychosocial intervention.

The Council of Europe also organises regular research conferences and has set up a body of experts, the Criminological Scientific Council, to advise the European Committee on Crime Problems.

Currently, the main focus of the cooperation activities in the field is prevention of juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice.