A systematic review by the Campbell Collaboration found 28 impact evaluations on Policing Focused on Disorder and Disturbance of Peace, nine of which were experimental studies. According to the authors, this type of intervention is effective to reduce crime. The effect found is modest and statistically significant for crime in general, property crime, violent crime, and disorder [2]. Similarly, a modest but statistically significant effect was found for the case of diffusion of the intervention (decrease in crime in adjacent areas).
The tactic combined with Problem-Oriented Community Policing has an effect whose magnitude is five times greater (more effective to reduce crime) than that associated with the “zero tolerance“ tactic, whose coefficient is not significant.
In a previous study, the same authors had already warned about the relevance of the form/tactic adopted to implement the strategy because, when applied through aggressive policing strategies (zero tolerance), the interventions do not generate significant reductions in crime, whereas, when applied through Problem-Oriented Community Policing approaches, they do [3].
The Crime Solutions Portal has evaluated this latest systematic review, classifying the strategy as effective to reduce crime and general and potential delinquency to reduce property crime, violent crime, and alcohol- and drug-related crime.