Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Crime Analysis and Evidence-Based Policing: Strategies for Success

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Crime Analyst's Companion

  • 517 Accesses

Abstract

While evidence-based policing (EBP) contains much promise for law enforcement agencies, implementation is a challenge. Crime analysts are uniquely positioned to help drive EBP within police services. Combining research knowledge with a detailed understanding of police data and analytics, they provide means by which police agencies can not only become increasingly data driven, but also to engage in their own internal research. Numerous examples illustrate this point. Crime analysts have been pivotal to the success of projects in such diverse areas as hotspot policing, focused deterrence, smart policing initiatives and problem-oriented policing, among others. This chapter discusses how analysts can become involved with developing internal evidence-based policing. It will outline how crime analysis has been integrated in policing (current practices and barriers)and how crime analysts can continue to play a key role in the future of evidence-based policing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson, C. (2016). Patriarchy, gender, infantilisation: A cultural account of police intelligence work in Scotland. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 50(2), 234–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belur, J., & Johnson, S. (2018). Is crime analysis at the heart of policing practice? A Case Study. Policing and Society, 28(7), 768–786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boba, R. (2010). A practice-based evidence approach in Florida. Police Practice and Research: An International Journal, 11(2), 122–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boba, R. (2013). Crime analysis and crime mapping. Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boba, R., & Santos, R. (2011). A police organizational model for crime reduction: Institutionalizing problem solving, analysis, and accountability. U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boba Santos, R., & Taylor, B. (2014). The integration of crime analysis into police patrol work: Results from a National Survey of law enforcement agencies. Policing: An International Journal, 37(3), 501–520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga, A. A. (2016). The value of ‘pracademics’ in enhancing crime analysis in police departments. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 10(3), 308–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burcher, M., & Whelan, C. (2018). Intelligence-led policing in practice: Reflections from intelligence analysts. Police Quarterly, 22(2), 139–160. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1098611118796890.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chainey, S. (2012). Improving the explanatory content of analysis products using hypothesis testing. Policing. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 6(2), 108–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, J. (2001). The technology game: How information technology is transforming police practice. Criminal Justice, 1(2), 139–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cope, N. (2004). Integrating volume crime analysis into policing. The British Journal of Criminology, 44, 188–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crank, J. P. (1998). Understanding police culture. Anderson Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolly, C., & Shawver, B. (2018). The organizational and practical considerations of starting a crime analysis unit: A case study of a midwestern police department. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 12(3), 255–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eck., J.E. (1998). What do those dots mean? Mapping theories with data. In D. Weisburd & T. McEwen (Eds.), Crime mapping and crime prevention (pp. 379–406). Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egge, J. (2011). Experimenting with future-oriented analysis at crime hot spots in Minneapolis. Geography and Public Safety, 2(4) National Institute of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J., & Kebbell, M. (2012). The effective analyst: A study of what makes an effective crime and intelligence analyst. Policing and Society, 22(2), 204–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J., & Kebbell, M. (2012b). Integrating intelligence into policing practice. In T. Prenzler (Ed.), Policing and security in practice: Challenges and achievements. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huey, L., & Mitchell, R. J. (2016). Unearthing hidden keys: Why pracademics are an invaluable (if underutilized) resource in policing research. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 10(3), 300–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Innes, M., Fielding, N., & Cope, N. (2005). The appliance of science? The theory and practice of criminal intelligence analysis. The British Journal of Criminology, 45(1), 39–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keay, S., & Kirby, S. (2018). The evolution of the police analyst and the influence of evidence-based policing. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 12(3), 265–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koper, C. S., Lum, C., Willis, J. J., Woods, D. J., & Hibdon, J. (2015). Realizing the potential of technology in policing: A multi-site study of the social, organizational, and behavioral aspects of implementing policing technologies. Report to the National Institute of Justice. Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, George Mason University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lum, C. (2009). Translating police research into practice. Police Foundation (Ideas in American Policing, Series No. 11).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lum, C. (2013). Is crime analysis evidence-based? Translational Criminology, 5, 12–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lum, C., & Koper, C. S. (2017). Evidence-based policing: Translating research into practice. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lum, C., Telep, C. W., Koper, C. S., & Grieco, J. (2012). Receptivity to research in policing. Justice Research and Policy, 14(1), 61–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lum, C., Koper, C. S., & Willis, J. (2017). Understanding the limits of technology’s impact on police effectiveness. Police Quarterly, 20(2), 135–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacVean, A., & Harfield, C. (2008). Science or sophistry: Managing analysts and their products. In C. Harfield, A. MacVean, J. Grieve, & D. Phillips (Eds.), The handbook of intelligent policing consilience, crime control, and community safety (pp. 93–104). Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Shea, T., & Nicholls, K. (2003). US Department of Justice – Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. In Crime analysis in America: Findings and recommendations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, M. (1990). The context of analysis. In P. Andrews & M. Peterson (Eds.), Criminal intelligence analysis. California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piza, E., & Feng, S. (2017). The current and potential role of crime analysts in evaluations of police interventions: Results from a survey of the International Association of Crime Analysts. Police Quarterly, 20(4), 339–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piza, E., Szokla, J., & Blount-Hill. (2020). How can embedded criminologists, police pracademics, and crime analysts help increase police-led program evaluations? A survey of authors cited in the evidence-based policing matrix. Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3571391

  • Ratcliffe, J. (2009). Intelligence research. In J. Ratcliffe (Ed.), Strategic thinking in criminal intelligence. The Federation Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe, J. (2016). Intelligence-led policing. Routledge Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, C. B., Weston, C., & Schott, N. (2015). Police innovations, ‘secret squirrels’ and accountability: Empirically studying intelligence-led policing in Canada. British Journal of Criminology, 55(4), 711–729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, C., & Condon, C. (2017). Crime analysis and cognitive effects: the practice of policing through flows of data. Global Crime, 18(3), 237–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/17440572.2017.1323637

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, R. B. (2012). Crime analysis with crime mapping. Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, R. (2014). The effectiveness of crime analysis for crime reduction: Cure or diagnosis? Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 30, 147–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos, R. B., & Taylor, B. G. (2014). The integration of crime analysis into police patrol work: Results from a National Survey of Law Enforcement Agencies. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 37(3), 501–520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, L. W., Gottfredson, D., MacKenzie, D., Eck, J., Reuter, P., & Bushway, S. (1997). Preventing crime: What works, what doesn’t, what’s promising: A report to the United States congress. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sissens, J. (2008). An evaluation of the role of intelligence analysts within the national intelligence model. In C. Hartfield, A. MacVean, J. Grieve, & D. Phillips (Eds.), The handbook of intelligent policing: Consilience, crime control and community safety (pp. 121–130). Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smart, M. (2010). The hidden power of informal leadership: What you need to know to identify your hidden leaders, build trust, inspire action and get results. Xulon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, M. K. (2015). Measuring performance in a modern police organization. Psychosociological Issues in Human Resource Management, 3(2), 17–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, B., & Boba, R. (2011). The integration of crime analysis into police work: A guidebook. Office of Community Oriented Police Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, B., Kowalyk, A., & Boba, R. (2008). The integration of crime analysis into law enforcement agencies: An exploratory study into the perceptions of crime analysts. Police Quarterly, 10(154), 154–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Telep, C. W., & Lum, C. (2014). The receptivity of officers to empirical research and evidence- based policing: An examination of survey data from three agencies. Police Quarterly, 17(4), 359–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Townsley, M., Mann, M., & Garrett, K. (2011). The missing link of crime analysis: A systematic approach to testing competing hypotheses. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 5(2), 158–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wartell, J., & Gallagher, K. (2012). Translating environmental criminology theory into crime analysis practice. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 6(4), 377–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisburd, D., & Eck, J. (2004). What can police do to reduce crime, disorder, and fear? The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 593(1), 42–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, C., Bennett-Moses, L., & Sanders, C. (2020). The changing role of the law enforcement analyst: clarifying core competencies for analysts and supervisors through empirical research. Policing and Society, 30(5), 532–547. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2018.1564751.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisburd, D., & Neyroud, P. (2011). Police science: Toward a new paradigm. New perspectives in policing. Executive session on policing and public safety. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing, Saskatoon, Canada

    John Ng

Authors
  1. John Ng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John Ng .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Matthew Bland

  2. Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Barak Ariel

  3. Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies, Ipswich, UK

    Natalie Ridgeon

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ng, J. (2022). Crime Analysis and Evidence-Based Policing: Strategies for Success. In: Bland, M., Ariel, B., Ridgeon, N. (eds) The Crime Analyst's Companion. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94364-6_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94364-6_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-94363-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-94364-6

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation