Crime as Opportunity: a Note on Domestic gas Suicide in Britain and The Netherlands

The decline of the suicide rate in England & Wales following detoxification of domestic gas has been used as evidence that crime can be prevented by reducing criminal opportunities. The present study investigates the seemingly lesser effect of detoxification on Scotland & The Netherlands. The authors conclude that the fall in suicide resulting from detoxification was masked by a rise in other forms of suicide, coincident to, rather than because of, detoxification. (VM)