The problem of environmental pollution and its prevention are essential elements of criminology. The recent investigations of BMW and Volkswagen are one of the many examples of misdeeds done to nature (Neslen, 2019). BMW was irresponsible in following strict rules regarding emissions, which shows that the given company attempts to avoid minimizing its impact on pollution. However, these kinds of incidents are becoming common across all car manufacturers and producers. Therefore, effective global legislative regulations have to be implemented to monitor the emission rate.
The BMW case can be seen through the theory of “broken windows” because car companies trespass the laws. After all, competitors might get away with it. According to this theory, if one entity commits a crime and escapes justice, others will try to do the same to profit (Leclerc, Chiu, & Cale, 2014). The routine activity theory may also be applied towards the given case because it states that the crime occurrence does not depend on poverty or inequality.
Prosperity and development can contribute to and increase crime rates because they provide more opportunities for a crime to be committed (Melo, Pereira, Andresen, & Matias, 2017). The implementation of numerous regulations on emission across the globe multiplied the instances to trespass these laws.
However, effective and functional policies can be put into practice to decrease environmental crime instances among car companies. The conflict of interests’ issue is crucial because designing policies to be profitable and attractive has high significance (Groff, Taylor, Elesh, McGovern, & Johnson, 2014). If a new emission regulation is aligned with the interests of BMW, the company gains and benefits from following the policy. Therefore, the corporation will not undermine laws, which are created to preserve the environment and nature of pollution.
References
Groff, E. R., Taylor, R. B., Elesh, D. B., McGovern, J., & Johnson, L. (2014). Permeability across a metropolitan area: Conceptualizing and operationalizing a macrolevel crime pattern theory. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 46(1), 129-152.
Leclerc, B., Chiu, Y. N., & Cale, J. (2014). Sexual violence and abuse against children: A first review through the lens of environmental criminology. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 60(7), 743-765.
Melo, S. N. D., Pereira, D. V. S., Andresen, M. A., & Matias, L. F. (2017). Spatial/temporal variations of crime: A routine activity theory perspective. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 62(7), 1967-1991.
Neslen, A. (2019). BMW, Daimler and VW charged with collusion over emissions. The Guardian. Web.