Lecture 2 Evidence Based Policing and Problem Orientated Policing

Question 1

What is evidence based policing?

Answer 1

In an evidence-based policing approach, police officers and staff create, review and use the best available evidence to inform and challenge policies, practices and decisions.

As a way of working, it can be supported by collaboration with academics and other partners.
Research can be used to:

• develop a better understanding of an issue – by describing the nature, extent and possible causes of a problem or looking at how a change was implemented; or
• assess the effect of a policing intervention – by testing the impact of a new initiative in a specific context or exploring the possible consequences of a change in policing.

Evidence-based policing does not provide definitive answers that officers and staff should apply uncritically. Officers and staff will reflect on their practice, consider how the ‘best available’ evidence applies to their day to day work, and learn from their successes and failures.

Question 2

Why is EBP important?

Answer 2

• Wider move to professionalise the police
• Increased complexity of crime (i.e online crime, terrorism, hidden crime)
• Greater pressure/ accountability on police forces
• need to know which activities are the most effective
• and appreciate, where possible, the unforeseen consequences of police action.

Question 3

What is Problem Orientated Policing?

Answer 3

Problem-orientated policing (POP), also known as problem solving policing, is an approach to tackling crime and disorder that involves the identification of a specific problem, thorough analysis to understand the problem, the development of a tailored response and an assessment of the effects of the response.

Question 4

Where can i find good examples of EBP and POP?

Answer 4

Cochrane Collaboration (Medical/ healthcare)
Campbell Collaboration (crime and justice)

Question 5

What is the SARA model?

Answer 5

Scanning: the identifying and prioritising of potential crime and disorder problems.
Analysis: the analysis of potential problems, by gathering information and intelligence to identify underlying causes of the problem.
Response: the development and implementation of tailored activities to address the causes of the problem, as identified in the analysis phase.
Assessment: the measurement of the impact of the response to test if it had the desired effect and to make changes to the response if required.

Question 6

What is the OSARA model?

Answer 6

Objective: Your objective should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART).

Scanning: Scanning is effectively gathering information.

Analysis: In the final part of your analysis you should begin to develop a working hypothesis about why the problem is happening. You should prove or disprove this theory in your response by testing them.

Response: A response plan should be based on the analysis carried out. The response plan will define what action is going to be taken to solve the problem.

Assessment: The aim of the assessment is to answer whether the objective you set at the beginning of the process has been achieved.

Question 7

What is the Problem Analysis Triangle?

Answer 7

The problem analysis triangle should be used as a guide to completing the analysis, it provides a way of thinking about recurring problems of crime and disorder. Understanding the weakness in the problem analysis triangle in the context of particular problem will point the way to new involvements.

The first layer of the triangle is made up of 3 sides:
- Victim
- Offender
- Location
The second layer of the triangle is made up of:
- Guardian
- Handler
- Manager
These are the people who have influence over those in the first layer of the triangle.

The third layer of the triangle are the supercontrollers, these are the people who can affect change, whether that be to policies and procedures or to encourage buy in from partner agencies.

Question 8

What is the ATLAS model?

Answer 8

Ask

• Asking challenging questions
• Reflect on current practice
• Build hypothesis

Test

• Test and evaluate new ideas, approaches and hypothesises
• produce evidence through new research and analysis
• Critically review and appraise existing research

Learn

• Do new and existing approaches have the effects we thought
• How do practices and policies work in the real world
• Understanding success and failure

Adapt

• Adapt current practices and policies based on the best available evidence
• Monitor implementation of new approaches
• Start asking new questions

Share from stage to stage.