Hot Spots Policing
Axios
Policing
Problems addressed
Disorder and disturbance (or breach) of the peace
Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
People of all ages
Where the program was applied
Community (streets or community centers)
Country of application
United States
Description

This strategy provides for an immediate policing approach to public disorder to improve physical and social order in high-crime areas.
The policing approach is developed through three components:
1) Increased arrests for minor offenses, including arrests for public order infractions;
2) Situational prevention strategies, aimed at improving disorder in targeted areas;
3) Actions of social services, including social assistance services as police partners, which help to increase social order.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that the program resulted in a 19.8% decrease in the total number of calls to police services and a decrease in social and physical disorder, especially in high-crime areas. There was no displacement of crime to other areas [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Braga, A. A., & Bond, B. J. (2008). Policing crime and disorder hot spots: A randomized controlled trial. Criminology, 46(3), 577-607. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-9125.2008.00124.x

Information source