According to Young (2011), what was a myth surrounding zero tolerance policing?

The assertion that zero tolerance policing claimed credit for falling crime rates despite pre-existing trends is accurate because it highlights a significant misconception surrounding the effectiveness of such policies. Young (2011) emphasized that advocates of zero tolerance policing often attributed the decrease in crime rates during the 1990s to the implementation of these policies, without acknowledging that crime figures were already on a downward trajectory due to a variety of socio-economic factors, including demographic changes and broader shifts in crime prevention strategies.

This perspective reveals how policies can sometimes be politically motivated, where success is overstated without a rigorous examination of the broader context. In reality, the crime decline was influenced by numerous variables beyond the scope of zero tolerance policing, thus exposing the myth that such policing was the sole or primary reason for the reduction in crime. Understanding this myth encourages a more nuanced evaluation of crime reduction strategies and their actual effectiveness, as well as their potential societal implications.