Abstract: As the prevention and control of crimes shifts to the spatial prevention and control currently, the theories of spatial prevention and control of crimes become popular in crime control. Especially those theories integrated with the technologies of geographical information system such as GIS, CPTED and SCP are increasingly commended. Yet it is essential to discern whether the theories are strategic or tactical, whether the methods of theories are strategic or tactical, and whether they are a step forward or regression of instrumentalism and technical priority. The relationship between the two determines the future orientation of the science of crime prevention and control. The theoretical support from the reviving classic criminology directly emphasizes the instrumental function in crime prevention, which meets the concept of the times that scientism is first and foremost in the development of modernization and that everything can be quantified and testified in “valid” empirical research. However, in terms of criminology, scientific means and empirical function cannot replace the construction of the overall strategic goals of crime prevention and control. Thus, it has double significance to distinguish between goals of strategies and tactics in order to avoid the fragmentation of the strategic goals of crime prevention and control.

Key words:  criminology, crime space, crime prevention and control, spatial prevention and control of crimes