Policing Problem Places

Many crime problems can be reduced more efficiently if police officers focused their attention on persistent high-activity crime places.

“A number of researchers have argued that many crime problems can be reduced more efficiently if police officers focused their attention to these persistent high‐activity crime places (Braga & Weisburd, 2010; Sherman & Weisburd, 1995; Weisburd, 1997).”

Fully implementing POP has been challenging, and programs are often characterized by partial implementations of the SARA model (shallow problem-solving).

“While POP has been widely adopted and assessed, it is important to note that fully implementing POP has been challenging (Cordner & Biebel, 2005; Maguire, Uchida, & Hassell, 2015), and programs are often characterized by partial implementations of the SARA model that have been termed “shallow” problem‐solving (Braga & Weisburd, 2010).”

Scholars have argued that approaches like POP that alter the characteristics of high-crime places may reduce more crime in the long run than approaches such as temporarily increased police presence or crackdowns.

“Regarding the meaning of effect sizes, we think it important to also note here that scholars have argued that approaches like POP that alter the characteristics of high‐crime places may reduce more crime in the long run than approaches such as temporarily increased police presence or crackdowns (Braga, Turchan, et al., 2019; Braga & Weisburd, 2010).”

This adds support to arguments that even "shallow" problem-solving efforts can be lead to significant reductions in crime.

“This adds support to arguments that even “shallow” problem‐solving efforts can be lead to significant reductions in crime (Braga & Weisburd, 2010).”

POP programs attempt to change the underlying conditions at hot spots that cause them to generate recurring crime problems.

“POP programs attempt to change the underlying conditions at hot spots that cause them to generate recurring crime problems (Braga & Weisburd, 2010; Goldstein, 1990).”

While increasing presence and concentrating traditional enforcement activities constitute an effective police response to crime hot spots, it seems likely that altering place characteristics and dynamics will produce larger crime prevention benefits.

“While increasing presence and concentrating traditional enforcement activities constitute an effective police response to crime hot spots, it seems likely that altering place characteristics and dynamics will produce larger crime prevention benefits (Braga & Weisburd, 2010).”

The available evidence suggests that hot spots policing interventions are more likely to be associated with the diffusion of crime control benefits into surrounding areas rather than crime displacement.

“The available evidence suggests that hot spots policing interventions are more likely to be associated with the diffusion of crime control benefits into surrounding areas rather than crime displacement (e.g. Braga and Weisburd 2010; Weisburd et al. 2006).”

Altering place characteristics and dynamics will produce larger and longer-term crime prevention benefits than arresting offenders.

“While arresting offenders remains a central strategy of the police and a necessary component of the police response to crime hot spots, it seems likely that altering place characteristics and dynamics will produce larger and longer-term crime prevention benefits (Braga and Weisburd 2010).”