NCJ Number
206327
Date Published
2004
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This report presents evaluation findings concerning the impact of the Reducing Burglary Initiative projects across northern England.
Abstract
The Northern Consortium, led by the University of Liverpool, evaluated 21 Strategic Development Projects (SDP) implementing the Reducing Burglary Initiative in northern England. Case study evaluations focused on the measurement and analysis of victimization, re-victimization, and crime displacement from the SDP areas. The primary purpose of the evaluation was to measure changes in burglary rates within and surrounding the 21 SDP areas. Findings revealed an overall reduction in burglary of 24 percent within the 21 northern SDP’s in the 2 years following April 1999. This is compared to a 14 percent reduction in burglary throughout England and Wales as a whole. Only two SDP’s failed to achieve any reduction in burglary. Cost-effectiveness data indicate that 10 of the SDP’s broke even on cost, 8 had positive benefits but did not break even, and 3 had a net increase in burglary resulting in negative benefits. Evidence of a geographical displacement of burglary was found in five of the SDP’s, while 7 SDP’s showed evidence of a potential diffusion of benefit to the surrounding area. Close examination of the data indicates the changes in burglary rates began falling significantly just prior to project implementation. This possibly suggests that simply signaling that a crime prevention initiative is to be implemented may be sufficient to make the desired impact. Other conclusions suggest that swift and intensive implementation may be most effective and that pathways to success vary depending on many interrelated factors. Tables, figures, references, appendix