Operation Impact
Axios
Effectiveness

Mixed Evidence

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Mixed Evidence

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Life periods served
Where the program was applied
Country of application
Description

This is a strategy to reduce drug trafficking on the streets, implemented through nighttime and foot patrols. Under the direction of three supervisors, 12 police officers are responsible for each target area. The intervention led to an increase in police presence per area, which was previously covered by only two officers.
As a result of the increased police presence, potential offenders were expected to perceive a greater risk of drug seizures. In addition, police officers engaged in proactive preventive actions aimed at disrupting street disorder and drug trafficking activity in violence-prone areas.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that the program reduced overall violence by 42%, robberies by 60%, and shootings by 60% in the monitored area compared to the control areas, but the impact on homicide and robbery rates was not statistically significant [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Piza, E. L. & O’Hara, B. A. (2014). Saturation Foot-Patrol in a High-Violence Area: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation. Justice Quarterly, 31(4), 693–718. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2012.668923