What is the current state of urban security in Europe in the context of the increased freedom of movement of people, goods and services across national borders, an increasingly austere economic climate and consequent pressures on governing capacity in European cities?

Crime prevention policy developed in Europe as a response to the perceived the perceived rise of transnational threats to the security of urban populations. This book examines the concept of 'urban security' in a European context, tracing the origins of the problem in public policy discourse through to the desire of the European Union to create an 'area of freedom, security and justice' amongst member states.





Written by experts in the field and based on extensive research across Europe, this book argues that the social science has a major contribution to make to this policy discourse in corroborating, criticising and adapting its conception of the problems, responsibilities and expertise entailed in urban security and constituting its smarter governance in an age of austerity.