How to Reduce Crime

Crime getting out of hand in Frostpunk 2? Learn how to keep it down by managing Goods demand, population growth, building key structures, and passing the right laws.

Alright, let's talk about Crime in Frostpunk 2. It's one of those stats that can sneak up on you and cause a whole heap of trouble if you're not careful. When Crime gets too high, it cranks up Tension, messes with your Population Growth, and can even lead to people joining Factions. So, keeping an eye on it is super important, especially as your city grows.

The biggest culprit for rising Crime, especially early on, is not meeting your city's demand for Goods. It sounds simple, but if you're not producing enough, Crime will start to climb. As your Population increases, so does the demand, and that's your cue to start actively bringing Crime down.

Here’s a quick rundown of what makes Crime go up:

• Increased Population
• Failing to meet the Goods Demand
• Low Trust with Communities and Factions
• Specific Laws

Now, how do we fight back against this rising tide of Crime? Don't worry, there are several ways to tackle it.

Boosting Your Goods Production

This is probably the most straightforward way to keep Crime in check. It's all about meeting that demand from your citizens. The easiest way to ramp up production is by building Industrial Districts and specifically choosing to produce Goods instead of Prefabs. Just select the District and click the Goods icon. If you need a quick boost, you can always use Emergency Shifts, but be aware that this might increase Squalor. You can also build Factories that specialize in Goods, but again, watch out for that Squalor increase.

Another way to get more Goods is by exploring the Frostland. Look for Settlements and Stockpiles you can connect back to your city using Trails or, even better, Skyways. Making sure your Goods demand is met should be one of your top priorities right from the start.

Managing Population Growth

As your city expands and your Population grows, Crime naturally follows. A smart way to manage this is by utilizing your Colonies. The Old Dreadnought is a good option early on. Select a Colony and choose the option to move people. Just be careful not to send too many, or you might end up with Districts that can't function because they lack a Workforce.

And hey, don't forget about the Hubs in your Idea Tree! Specifically, Surveillance Hubs can be a real lifesaver for managing Crime.

Building Up Defenses: Prisons, Watchtowers, and Guard Squads

You can directly combat Crime by placing structures like Prisons and Watchtowers in your Housing Districts, provided you've expanded them enough to have the building slots. Building Watchtowers also increases the number of Guard Squads available, which are crucial for keeping Crime down. Plus, with Watchtowers, you unlock the Random Searches ability. This will bump up Tension, sure, but it's a great way to get an immediate drop in Crime if things are getting out of hand.

Strategic Lawmaking

Finally, the Council is your friend when it comes to Crime. There are a bunch of Laws you can pass that will either increase or decrease Crime levels. Early on, getting the Law on Dutiful Youth passed is a solid move and usually pretty easy to get votes for. Later on, you might consider more drastic Crime Elimination Laws if the situation is really dire – these can pretty much solve your Crime problems.