NCJ Number
180613
Editor(s)
Barry Webb
Date Published
1999
Length
79 pages
Annotation
This report presents research on proactivity in policing to introduce the concept of economic evaluation to policing in England and Wales, and to explain the use of economic evaluation in selecting among alternative actions, allocating resources, and assessing decisions.
Abstract
The three phases of the research included: (1) a survey of all 43 police agencies in England and Wales, (2) case studies of initiatives in 3 agencies with different approaches to proactivity, and (3) the development of guidance for agencies wanting to use economic evaluation to aid decision making about resource allocation. Results revealed that the three evaluation approaches that are most relevant to policing are performance indicators, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-benefit analysis. Case studies confirmed that for proactive policing, economic evaluation is currently practicable only in the context of specific initiatives. However, the approach was not so easily applied to functional changes or to changes in ethos. Difficulties included the problem of obtaining cost estimates directly related to the activity and of determining appropriate comparisons. Findings apply to all forms of policing and not just to issues of proactivity and indicated that economic evaluation has an important role in decisions about resource allocation. Tables; appended glossary, additional results, and guidelines; and 11 references