NCJ Number
251993
Journal
A Journal of Policy and Practice Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2013 Pages: 248-262
Date Published
September 2013
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study applied a large body of police research in assessing a range of practices in one police service in the UK.
Abstract
Financial pressures on police forces are driving a re-evaluation of the legitimacy, effectiveness, and value for money of law enforcement services and activities. Evidence-based policingusing the best available research and analysis to help guide police practicehas been viewed as an important tool in this era of austerity and accountability, but how is it to be accomplished? The current study provides one demonstration of how such an effort might begin. This study is the first in the United Kingdom or the United States to apply the Evidence-Based Policing Matrix (the Matrix) systematically to assess crime control effectiveness across a range of a police department's patrol strategies. The Matrix is a database of police research on the effectiveness of various police policies and practices. Such evidence assessments are useful strategic approaches in the absence of evaluations of a particular agency that is faced with choices about what programs to retain or cut. The current study used the findings of the evidence-based research in the Matrix in systematically assessing crime control effectiveness across a range of the UK police department's patrol strategies. (Publisher abstract modified)