Whole of government approaches assume that because the causes of crime are complex and multifaceted, then preventive responses will be more effective if the efforts of all the relevant government agencies and community and business groups are combined into a single coordinated strategy.

However, using the experience of the UK's Crime Reduction Programme, Peter Homel illustrates that implementing a whole of government approach can present many practical challenges and difficulties that need to be carefully planned for and managed so that the improved benefits outweigh the additional costs.