Effects of Problem-Oriented Policing on Crime and Disorder

Book excerpt: This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) approach was one response to a crisis in policing that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. Police were not being effective in preventing crime because they had become focused on the ¿means¿ of policing and had neglected the ¿goals¿ of preventing and controlling crime. The ¿problem¿ rather than calls or crime incidents should be the focus. This study conducted a review to examine the effectiveness of POP in reducing crime and disorder. Studies had to meet 3 criteria: (1) the SARA model was used; (2) a comparison group was included; (3) at least one crime or disorder outcome was reported. Only 10 studies that met the criteria; there was a modest but statistically significant impact of POP on crime.