Is problem-oriented policing effective in reducing crime and disorder?

Citation

Buckmeier, B. (2010), "Is problem-oriented policing effective in reducing crime and disorder?", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 33 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/pijpsm.2010.18133bae.007

Is problem-oriented policing effective in reducing crime and disorder?

Is problem-oriented policing effective in reducing crime and disorder?

Article Type: Perspectives on policing From: Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, Volume 33, Issue 2

D. Weisburd, T. Telep, W. Cody, J.C. Hinkle and J.E. Eck,Criminology and Public Policy,Vol. 9 No. 1,2010,pp. 139-172,

Weisburd et al. (2010) examine the effectiveness of problem-oriented policing in reducing crime and disorder. The authors conduct a Campbell systematic review and identified ten articles out of 5,500 that met their criteria and then used meta-analytic techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of problem-oriented policing (POP). The study hopes to address the lack of any substantial review of the POP the research to determine whether the widespread implementation of POP is justified by the evidence.

The Campbell systematic review for this paper involved a methodological and substantive review of each project at the proposal stage and before the final report was submitted. The treatment is the method used to develop the intervention. The main review consists of experimental and quasi-experimental studies which include a comparison group. After the Campbell systematic review, a meta-analysis of the ten relevant studies was conducted. The review analyzed the studies by combining all the primary outcomes into an overall effect size statistic and taking the largest effect reported in the studies. A random effects model was used in the analysis.

The authors point out that they are not evaluating any particular police strategy but rather are evaluating the process used by the police to develop strategies. The overall effect sizes were modest but did point to POP being effective in reducing crime and disorder. However, the authors conclude that the overall evidence base for POP is deficient considering how much investment has been made in POP. Furthermore, 45 other studies which fell short of the stricter methodological criteria were assessed and larger effect sizes were found in these studies.

Bradley BuckmeierUniversity of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA