Policing in partnership: a case study in crime prevention
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN: 0951-3558
Article publication date: 30 September 2013
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to outline an exploratory study of how a multi-agency, partnership approach to crime prevention might enable the police more effectively to target their utilisation of resources in order both to reduce local levels of criminality and to improve public confidence. It is set against a backdrop of major police reforms that will require police commanders to demonstrate high levels of accountability in terms of resource and financial utilisation, and to show continuing improvement in levels of public confidence.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study approach is adopted; it draws upon both primary and secondary data sources and is framed within a situational approach to crime prevention.
Findings
There has been a drop in the levels of burglary in those areas where the home improvement initiative (Decent Homes Programme) has been carried out. The tenants consulted as part of the research reported that they felt safer in their homes as a result. Also, their general level of satisfaction with the police and other agencies has improved.
Research limitations/implications
There has been an overall drop in levels of reported crime in terms of burglaries across the UK. It may be asked whether such improvement in Nottingham has been due to a genuine improvement in police performance or is as a consequence of the home improvements. The present paper is a single case study, with no opportunity for a comparative analysis across other police force areas. This limitation could be overcome by other researchers involved in similar Decent Homes Programmes in other cities in the UK.
Practical implications
The research illustrates that multi-agency working may indeed help create an improvement in living conditions for residents. It also identifies the fact that, as a result of successful integrated multi-agency approaches to crime prevention, the police are able to save resources in terms of time spent investigating crime.
Originality/value
This paper adds tangible evidence to theoretical discourse on the benefits of multi-agency work in the context of social housing
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the company team involved in the preparation of the crime assessment report: Alice Jones (KTP Associate); Steve Hale (NCH); Dan Lucas (NCH), and Philippa Ryan (KTP Officer).
Citation
Barton, H. and Valero-Silva, N. (2013), "Policing in partnership: a case study in crime prevention", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 26 No. 7, pp. 543-553. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-12-2011-0131
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited