Policing Directions: a Systematic Review on the Effectiveness of Police Presence

We systematically review the effectiveness of police presence. In doing so, we investigate concepts of police presence and differences between reported effects. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and protocols, we systematically identify...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Dau, Philipp M. (Author)
Contributors: Vandeviver, Christophe ; Dewinter, Maite ; Witlox, Frank ; Vander Beken, Tom
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2023
In: European journal on criminal policy and research
Year: 2023, Volume: 29, Issue: 2, Pages: 191-225
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Crime Prevention
Deterrence
Patrol
Police Presence
Description
Summary:We systematically review the effectiveness of police presence. In doing so, we investigate concepts of police presence and differences between reported effects. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and protocols, we systematically identify and review eligible studies on police presence. Further, quality assessment and findings synthesis are used to map limitations of current research as well as grounds for future avenues. The systematic search strategies yielded 49 studies focusing on testing the effects of police presence or evaluating its measurement. We find evidence that police presence has mostly crime reduction effects on crimes related to motor theft, property, violence and guns. Police presence also reduces calls for service and improves traffic behaviour. Police presence focused on specific areas, times and types of crime achieves maximum effectiveness. The reviewed studies show a high degree of heterogeneity in reporting which limits comparability of findings across studies. Research on police presence presents evidence for significant crime preventative effects of focused police actions and shows strongest effects when focused on certain areas, times, or types of crimes. We encourage future research to focus on police presence en route and its effects, including crime prevention, traffic regulation and fear of crime.
Item Description:Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 220-224
Physical Description:Diagramme
ISSN:1572-9869
DOI:10.1007/s10610-021-09500-8