Abstract
This book outlines some of the latest research evidence on the effectiveness of anti-burglary security. Much of this research is the product of collaborative activity between academics and practitioners. This chapter presents the authors’ collective personal reflections on working together as part of an 18-month project. It is unique in that it reflects upon activities involving a range of organisations from across the public and third sectors. In agreement with much previous research, we suggest that good quality relationships and tailored communications are key components in the effective exchange of knowledge. In addition, we discuss some of our unresolved challenges, namely, how to articulate the potential benefits of involvement to practitioners and how to document impact accurately.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
Hereafter referred to as ‘the burglary project’.
- 2.
‘When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed’ (Chatham House 2018).
Abbreviations
- AC:
-
Advisory Committee
- CSEW:
-
Crime Survey for England and Wales
- ESRC:
-
Economic and Social Research Council
- NCDP:
-
Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership
- NHWN:
-
Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (England and Wales)
- RCUK:
-
Research Councils United Kingdom
- REF:
-
Research Excellence Framework
- SBD:
-
Secured by Design
References
Bach, W., & Cole, S. (2017). Police on the frontline bear the brunt of cuts to their service and others. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/28/police-on-the-frontline-bear-the-brunt-of-cuts-to-their-service-and-others. Accessed 31 Jan 2018.
Bowers, K., Tompson, L., Sidebottom, A., Bullock, K., & Johnson, S. D. (2017). Reviewing evidence for evidence-based policing. In J. Knutsson & L. Tompson (Eds.), Advances in evidence-based policing (pp. 98–116). Oxon: Routledge.
Braga, A. A., & Hinkle, M. (2010). The participation of academics in the criminal justice working group process. In J. M. Klofas, N. Kroovand Hipple, & E. F. McGarrell (Eds.), The new criminal justice (pp. 114–120). New York: Routledge.
Buerger, M. E. (2010). Policing and research: Two cultures separated by an almost-common language. Police Practice and Research, 11(2), 135–143.
Bullock, K., & Tilley, N. (2009). Evidence-based policing and crime reduction. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 3(4), 381–387.
Burawoy, M. (2005). For public sociology. American Sociological Review, 70, 4–28.
Burkhardt, B. C., Akins, S., Sassaman, J., Jackson, S., Elwer, K., Lanfear, C., Amorim, M., & Stevens, K. (2017). University Researcher and Law Enforcement Collaboration: Lessons from a study of justice-involved persons with suspected mental illness. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 61(5), 508–525.
Canter, D. V. (2004). A tale of two cultures: A comparison of the cultures of the police and academia. In R. Adlam & P. Villiers (Eds.), Policing a safe, just and tolerant society: An international model (pp. 109–121). Winchester: Waterside Press.
Chatham House (2018). Chatham House Rule. https://www.chathamhouse.org/about/chatham-house-rule#. Accessed 9 Feb 2018.
Cockbain, E. (2015). Getting a foot in the closed door: Practical advice for starting out in research into crime and policing issues. In E. Cockbain & J. Knutsson (Eds.), Applied police research: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 21–33). Oxon: Routledge.
Cockbain, E., & Knutsson, J. (Eds.). (2015). Applied police research: Challenges and opportunities. Oxon: Routledge.
College of Policing. (2017). About us. http://www.college.police.uk/About/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed 30 May 2018.
Cordner, G., & White, S. (2010). Special issue: The evolving relationship between police research and police practice. Police Practice and Research: An International Journal, 11(2), 90–94.
Crawford, A. (2017). Research co-production and knowledge mobilisation in policing. In J. Knutsson & L. Tompson (Eds.), Advances in evidence-based policing (pp. 195–213). Oxon: Routledge.
Crawford, A., & L’Hoiry, X. (2017). Boundary crossing: Networked policing and emergent ‘communities of practice’ in safeguarding children. Policing and Society, 27(6), 636–654.
Davies, H., Nutley, S., & Walter, I. (2008). Why ‘knowledge transfer’ is misconceived for applied social research. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 3, 188–190.
Eagar, K., Cromwell, D., Owen, A., Senior, K., Gordon, R., & Green, J. (2003). Health services research and development in practice: An Australian experience. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 8(2), 7–13.
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). (2017). What is impact? http://www.esrc.ac.uk/research/impact-toolkit/what-is-impact/. Accessed 15 June 2017.
Ekblom, P. (2002). From the source to the mainstream is uphill: The challenge of transferring knowledge of crime prevention through replication, innovation and anticipation. Crime Prevention Studies, 13, 131–203.
Engel, R. S., & Henderson, S. (2013). Beyond rhetoric: Establishing police-academic partnerships that work. In J. M. Brown (Ed.), The future of policing (pp. 217–236). Oxon: Routledge.
Fleming, J. (2010). Learning to work together: Police and academics. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 4(2), 139–145.
Foster, J., & Bailey, S. (2010). Joining forces: Maximising ways of making a difference in policing. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 4(2), 95–103.
Fraser, I. (2004). Organizational research with impact: Working backwards. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 1(1), S52–S59.
Frisch, N. E. (2015). Exploring the nature and success of an embedded Criminologist partnership. Masters thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland. https://drum.lib.umd.edu/handle/1903/17203 Accessed 30 May 2018.
Frisch, N. E. (2016). Examining the success of an embedded criminologist partnership. Translational Criminology, 2016(Spring), 24–26.
Fyfe, N. R., & Wilson, P. (2012). Knowledge exchange and police practice: Broadening and deepening the debate around researcher-practitioner collaborations. Police Practice and Research, 13(4), 306–314.
Goode, J., & Lumsden, K. (2018). The McDonaldisation of police-academic partnerships: Organisational and cultural barriers encountered in moving from research on police to research with police. Policing and Society: An International Journal of Research and Policy, 28(1), 75–89.
Greene, J. R. (2010). Collaborations between police and research/academic organizations: Some prescriptions from the field. In J. M. Klofas, N. Kroovand Hipple, & E. F. McGarrell (Eds.), The new criminal justice (pp. 121–127). New York: Routledge.
Greene, J. R. (2015). Police research as mastering the tango: The dance and its meaning. In E. Cockbain & J. Knutsson (Eds.), Applied police research: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 117–128). Oxon: Routledge.
Grieco, J., Vovak, H., & Lum, C. (2014). Examining research-practice partnerships in policing evaluations. Policing, 8(4), 368–378.
Hara, N., Solomon, P., Kim, S.-L., & Sonnenwald, D. H. (2003). An emerging view of scientific collaboration: Scientists’ perspectives on collaboration and factors that impact collaboration. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 54(10), 952–965.
Henry, A., & Mackenzie, S. (2012). Brokering communities of practice: A model of knowledge exchange and academic-practitioner collaboration developed in the context of community policing. Police Practice and Research, 13(4), 315–328.
HM Treasury. (2010). Spending review 2010. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
HMIC. (2014). Policing in austerity: Meeting the challenge. London: HMIC.
HMIC. (2017). State of policing – The annual assessment of policing in England and Wales 2016: Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary. London: HMIC.
Home Office. (2017). Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2017. London: Home Office. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630471/hosb1017-police-workforce.pdf. Accessed 30 May 2018.
House of Commons. (2018). Policing for the future: Tenth report of session 2017–19. HC515. London: House of Commons.
Innes, M. (2010). A ‘Mirror’ and a ‘Motor’: Researching and reforming policing in an age of austerity. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 4(2), 127–134.
Innes, C. A., & Everett, R. S. (2008). Factors and conditions influencing the use of research by the Criminal Justice System. Western Criminology Review, 9(1), 49–58.
Innvaer, S., Vist, G., Trommald, M., & Oxman, A. D. (2002). Health policy-makers’ perceptions of their use of evidence: A systematic review. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 17(4), 239–244.
International Association of Chiefs of Police. (n.d.). Establishing and sustaining law enforcement-researcher partnerships: Guide for researchers. Washington, D.C.: IACP.
Kleemans, E. R. (2015). Organized crime research: Challenging assumptions and informing policy. In E. Cockbain & J. Knutsson (Eds.), Applied police research: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 57–67). Oxon: Routledge.
Knutsson, J., & Tompson, L. (Eds.). (2017). Advances in evidence-based policing. Oxon: Routledge.
Lane, J., Turner, S., & Flores, C. (2004). Researcher-practitioner collaboration in community corrections: Overcoming hurdles for successful partnerships. Criminal Justice Review, 29(1), 97–114.
Laycock, G. (2015). Trust me, I’m a researcher. In E. Cockbain & J. Knutsson (Eds.), Applied police research: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 45–56). Oxon: Routledge.
Lum, C., Telep, C. W., Koper, C. S., & Grieco, J. (2012). Receptivity to research in policing. Justice Research and Policy, 14(1), 61–94.
Marks, M., & Sklansky, D. (2008). Voices from below: Unions and participatory arrangements in the police workplace. Police Practice and Research, 9(2), 85–94.
Marks, M., Wood, J., Ally, F., Walsh, T., & Witbooi, A. (2010). Worlds apart? On the possibilities of police/academic collaborations. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 4(2), 112–118.
McAra, L. (2017). Can Criminologists change the world? Critical reflections on the politics, performance and effects of criminal justice. British Journal of Criminology, 57(4), 767–788.
Meagher, L., Lyall, C., & Nutley, S. (2008). Flows of knowledge, expertise and influence: A method for assessing policy and practice impacts from social science research. Research Evaluation, 17(3), 163–173.
Mitton, C., Adair, C. E., McKenzie, E., Patten, S. B., & Perry, B. W. (2007). Knowledge transfer and exchange: Review and synthesis of the literature. The Milbank Quarterly, 85(4), 729–768.
Molas-Gallart, J., Tang, P., & Morrow, S. (2000). Assessing the non-academic impact of grant-funded socio-economic research: Results from a pilot study. Research Evaluation, 9(3), 171–182.
Murji, K. (2010). Introduction: Academic-police collaborations – Beyond ‘two worlds’. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 4(2), 92–94.
Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (England & Wales) (NHWN). (2015). Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/knowledge/nhwn-strategic-plan-2015-20/. Accessed 9 Feb 2018.
Nutley, S. M., Walter, I., & Davies, H. T. O. (2003). From knowing to doing: a framework for understanding the evidence-into-practice agenda. Evaluation, 9(2), 125–148.
Nutley, S. M., Walter, I., & Davies, H. T. O. (2007). Using evidence: How research can inform public services. Bristol: The Policy Press.
Oliver, K., Innvar, S., Lorenc, T., Woodman, J., & Thomas, J. (2014). A systematic review of barriers to and facilitators of the use of evidence by policymakers. BMC Health Services Research, 14(2).
Reback, C. J., Cohen, A. J., Freese, T. E., & Shoptaw, S. (2002). Making collaboration work: Key components of practice/research partnerships. Journal of Drug Issues, 837–848.
Reimer, B., Sawka, E., & James, D. (2005). Improving research transfer in the addictions field: A perspective from Canada. Substance Use and Misuse, 40(11), 1707–1720.
Ritter, A. (2009). How do drug policy makers access research evidence? International Journal of Drug Policy, 20, 70–75.
Rojek, J., Alpert, G., & Smith, H. (2012). The utilization of research by the police. Police Practice and Research, 13(4), 329–341.
Rosenbaum, D. P. (2010). Police research: Merging the policy and action research traditions. Police Practice and Research, 11(2), 144–149.
Rosenbaum, D. P., & Roehl, J. (2010). Building successful anti-violence partnerships: Lessons from the Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI) model. In J. M. Klofas, N. Kroovand Hipple, & E. F. McGarrell (Eds.), The new criminal justice (pp. 39–50). New York: Routledge.
Ross, S., Lavis, J., Rodriguez, C., Woodside, J., & Denis, J.-L. (2003). Partnership experiences: Involving decision makers in the research process. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 8(2), 26–34.
Stanko, B. A. (2007). From academia to policy making: Changing police responses to violence against women. Theoretical Criminology, 11(2), 209–219.
Steinheider, B., Wuestewald, T., Boyatzis, R. E., & Kroutter, P. (2012). In search of a methodology of collaboration: Understanding researcher-practitioner philosophical differences in policing. Police Practice and Research, 13(4), 357–374.
Stephens, D. W. (2010). Enhancing the impact of research on police practice. Police Practice and Research, 11(2), 150–154.
Stern, N. (2016). Building on success and learning from experience: An independent review of the Research Excellence Framework. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/541338/ind-16-9-ref-stern-review.pdf. Accessed 31 Jan 2018.
Strang, H. (2012). Coalitions for a common purpose: Managing relationships in experiments. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 8(3), 211–225.
Tartari, V., Salter, A., & D’Este, P. (2012). Crossing the Rubicon: Exploring the factors that shape academics’ perceptions of the barriers to working with industry. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 36, 655–677.
The Times. (2013, October 23). Letters to the Editor: New home security.
Thompson, R. (2016). Improving the crime reduction evidence base: Acquisitive crime. Presentation to the Home Office, 27 Apr 2016.
Thompson, R. (2017, January 24). The WIDE benefits of burglary security. Presentation to the what works in crime reduction conference, British Library.
Thompson, R., & Tseloni, A. (2016). What works: Which security devices best protect homes against burglary? Policing Insight. https://policinginsight.com/analysis/protecting-homes-burglary-effective-security-devices/. Accessed 31 Jan 2018.
Tilley, N., & Laycock, G. (2000). Joining up research, policy and practice about crime. Policy Studies, 21(3), 213–227.
Tilley, N., Thompson, R., Farrell, G., Grove, L., & Tseloni, A. (2015). Do burglar alarms increase burglary risk? A counter-intuitive finding and possible explanations. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 17(1), 1–19.
Tompson, L., Belur, J., Morris, J., & Tuffin, R. (2017). How to make police-researcher partnerships mutually effective. In J. Knutsson & L. Tompson (Eds.), Advances in evidence-based policing (pp. 175–194). Oxon: Routledge.
Tseloni, A. (2014a, November 19). Which burglary security devices work for whom and in what context? Burglary – What Works and Why? Presentation to the National Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network Stakeholders Event, London.
Tseloni, A. (2014b, January 28). Evidence given to the Justice Committee on ‘Crime reduction policies: A co-ordinated approach?’ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmjust/307/140128.htm. Accessed 30 May 2018.
Tseloni, A. (2015, December 2–3). Participation in ‘The way ahead for Neighbourhood Watch’. National Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network Stakeholders Event, Birmingham.
Tseloni, A. (2017, March 28). Evidence given to the Home Affairs Committee: ‘Policing for the future: changing demands and new challenges’. Portcullis House. http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/home-affairs-committee/policing-for-the-future-changing-demands-and-new-challenges/oral/49475.html. Accessed 30 May 2018.
Tseloni, A., & Thompson, R. (2015). Securing the premises. Significance, 12(1), 32–35.
Weiss, C. H. (1995). The haphazard connection: Social science and public policy. International Journal of Educational Research, 23(2), 137–150.
Weiss, J. A., & Weiss, C. H. (1981). Social scientists and decision makers look at the usefulness of mental health research. American Psychologist, 36(8), 837–847.
Wilkinson, S. (2010). Research and policing – Looking to the future. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 4(2), 146–148.
Wuestewald, T., & Steinheider, B. (2009). Practitioner-researcher collaboration in policing: A case of close encounters. Policing, 4(2), 104–111.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Thompson, R., Algate, K. (2018). From Project to Practice: Utilising Research Evidence in the Prevention of Crime. In: Reducing Burglary. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99942-5_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99942-5_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-99941-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-99942-5
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)