Advancing understanding of pinch-points and crime prevention in the food supply chain

From a crime prevention perspective, food crime remains a challenge. Whilst opportunity for crime can be reduced by implementing situational measures and addressing the potential perpetrators, their possible actions and criminal behaviour, the trade-offs which occur in the food supply chain that motivate such activity still remains complex. These heuristic factors have led, in this study, to the consideration of “pinch-points” where crime could occur as a result of capability, opportunity, motivation, rationalisation and supply chain pressure. Pinch-points can be addressed using the Food Crime Countermeasures Framework conceptualised in this paper. We argue that conventional anti-fraud measures—detection, deterrence and prevention—are essential to support food fraud risk assessments, as are continuous interventions and response strategies. The implementation of countermeasures that initially drive prevention and deterrence and where required, detection, intervention and response form the basis of our approach. Whilst this paper focuses on the UK, however, it should recognise that food crime is a global issue.