Extending the Routine Activity Approach: Exploring the Influence of Daily Macro and Micro Routines on Guardianship Against Crime Events

• In Event: Advancing the Routine Activity Approach by Examining Guardianship Across Contexts

Abstract

The routine activity approach argues that macro daily routines influence the convergence of offenders and suitable targets in a time and space where no guardians are present. This paper looks to extend the routine activity approach by examining the influence of micro daily routines on guardianship patterns and how this can influence crime opportunity. Macro daily activities are those that take place outside of a person’s home (e.g., commuting to a from work, going to the gym, attending children’s events, etc.), while micro daily routines are those that are undertaken within a person’s home (e.g., cooking dinner at night, gardening on the weekend, etc.). The current study utilises data from 20 interviews with Brisbane suburban residents to understand where in their home, and when they engage in guardianship over their space. Results suggest that both macro and micro daily routines are useful in understanding residential guardianship patterns and when people engage in monitoring. Monitoring is not an automatic process, and certain micro daily routines help facilitate guardianship as they facilitate supervision over the street and other’s properties. Micro daily routines of residents could then help understand crime opportunities by the presence/absence of supervising guardians.

Authors

• Emily Moir, Griffith University

• Danielle Reynald, Griffith University

• Timothy Hart, Griffith University

• Anna Stewart, Griffith University