Problem-oriented Policing

What is it?

Problem-oriented policing (POP), also known as problem-solving policing, aims to create sustainable reductions in crime by tackling its root causes. It is not a single intervention, but a structured approach for developing tailored interventions to specific issues. POP strategies often focus on places with high rates of crime, but it can also be applied to people or crime types. It is usually delivered in partnership between the police and local authorities, schools, youth services, health services, and community organisations.

POP strategies are guided by the SARA model, which uses four steps to resolving crime problems:

Scanning

The first step involves identifying and describing the specific problem that is significantly impacting the local area or community. Scanning often draws from local crime data, police intelligence, and feedback from local communities. This step often involves crime hotspots mapping or crime analysis to identify places, people, or groups of people to focus interventions and resources on.

Analysis

Once a problem has been identified, the police and partner agencies examine its underlying causes. This could include community consultation and engagement to gain a better understanding of the problem, and to build relationships with the children, young people, and community members that may be involved or affected. Engagement activities may include neighbourhood meetings, presentations in schools and other youth settings, or community outreach work.  

Response

The third step involves designing tailored responses, and may include:

• Environmental changes to improve feelings of safety in specific areas and to increase public use of spaces. This might include removing overgrown vegetation, installing CCTV, repairing damaged fences, doors and windows, improving lighting, and removing vandalism. These may also include community-led clean up events, seeking to involve the local community and create long-term commitment to maintaining the local environment.
• Positive activities for those at risk of involvement in violence and crime, such as community social events, sports, music, or arts programmes.
• Bespoke interventions tailored to specific individuals involved in offending. These intervention types can be complex and resource-intensive, such as focused deterrence that provides support and police intervention. 
• Increased visibility of policing and hot spots police patrols. 

Assessment

In the final step, the team evaluates the effectiveness of the response. The aim is to understand whether the activities had an impact and to modify or scale the response if needed.  

The duration and intensity of interventions developed using the POP approach can vary significantly, from short-term targeted projects lasting a few weeks to long-term initiatives spanning several years.

Is it effective? 

On average, problem-oriented policing is likely to have a moderate impact on violence. 

The research estimates that POP, on average, may reduce violent crime by 24%.

The review also found that POP is likely to have a moderate impact on crime. The research estimates that POP, on average, may reduce crime by 23%.

The evidence suggests that problem-oriented policing interventions may reduce the risk of violent crime by 24%.

POP achieves greater reductions in violence when it works with children and young people whose peer groups are involved in crime, or those at risk of criminal exploitation. The most effective interventions typically focus on social and emotional development, supporting mental health, and developing positive relationships. When POP focuses mainly on environmental changes such as CCTV or streetlighting, it tends to show weaker reductions in violence. These findings align with the evidence in the Toolkit on these approaches, demonstrating the importance of POP implementing interventions that are supported by evidence.

How secure is the evidence? 

We have moderate confidence in our estimate of the average impact of problem-oriented policing on violence.

We gave this rating because the estimate is based on 11 studies, and only five of these were high quality. Only one of these studies was conducted in the UK, and the rest were conducted in the US.

We also have moderate confidence in our estimate of the average impact of problem-oriented policing on crime. This estimate is based on 14 studies, five of which were high quality. Three studies were conducted in the UK, and the rest were conducted in the US.

Who does it work for? 

There is not enough research to tell us if this approach is more or less effective in relation to personal characteristics or outcomes, such as gender, ethnicity, and special educational needs or disabilities.

How can you implement it well?  

Use data to guide decisions

Effective POP interventions are grounded in robust analysis. Use crime data, mapping software, and skilled analysts to identify the most appropriate problems, people and locations to target, and how and when to target them. Avoid relying solely on officer perceptions or informal assessments, which can lead to less effective and less appropriate responses.

Adapt to local context

POP should be flexible and responsive to local needs. What works in one area may not work in another, especially across urban, rural, or culturally distinct settings. Interventions should be designed for specific places, problems, or people, rather than rolled out as a universal or one-size-fits-all approach.

Build collaborative relationships from the start

Partnerships with community organisations, local councils, schools, youth services, and faith groups can help to identify the causes of violence, strengthen delivery, and help build trust.

Ensure police buy-in
Senior leaders should support training in POP, and promote a culture that reinforces the value of problem-solving approaches. Without police buy-in, implementation quality and consistency can suffer.

Avoid harmful or inappropriate strategies
Boot camps and prison awareness programmes, such as ‘Scared Straight’ and interventions that use overly punitive responses, may lead to increases in violence and crime. Ensure POP strategies use evidence-based interventions tailored to the problem.

Monitor delivery and evaluate impact
Track whether the POP model is implemented as intended. Build in evaluation from the start and be clear about how decisions were made, who was targeted, and why.

How much does it cost? 

We did not assign a cost rating for problem-oriented policing interventions, as the approach varies significantly depending on the local problem being addressed, and the interventions undertaken. Some approaches are led by two police officers over a short period, and others involve multiple partner agencies and may run for two or three years.

Most interventions require dedicated police time and staff training; crime mapping and data analytic tools; and in some cases, community engagement materials and investment from local authorities in public services or amenities.

There is limited UK cost-effectiveness data available. Two research studies from the UK report substantial savings from reduced costs of arrests, reduced offending and reduced antisocial behaviour.

Topic summary 

• Problem-oriented policing is an approach to tackling crime which focuses police efforts on  addressing the root causes of crime. It often involves working with communities and using local data to design long-term solutions.
• The evidence suggests that POP strategies may reduce violent crime by 24%, and crime by 23%.
• POP has greater effects when it supports children at greater risk of involvement in violence and criminal exploitation, and when it uses evidence-based interventions that focus on building social and emotional skills, supporting mental health, and strengthening relationships.
• Success depends on good data, strong partnerships, and tailored responses.

Take away messages 

• Embed POP strategies into policing practice, ensuring they involve collaboration with partner agencies and the community.
• Ensure POP strategies prioritise interventions with stronger evidence of impact, such as programmes that support social and emotional development, improve mental health, and build positive relationships.
• Prioritise interventions for children and young people at greater risk of involvement in violence and criminal exploitation.
• Invest in organisational infrastructure and staff capabilities to deliver problem-oriented policing, including providing access to crime and intelligence analysts for support and advice, and comprehensive training for officers, staff, and volunteers.

External Links

• College of Policing: Problem-Oriented Policing Guidelines
  Comprehensive guidelines aimed at developing a consistent problem-solving culture across policing in England and Wales
• College of Policing: SARA Model: A guide to using the SARA model
• Implementing and sustaining Problem-oriented Policing: A practical guide discussing the challenges and facilitators of implementing POP in police forces

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