NCJ Number
208103
Date Published
July 2004
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the effects of a sustained and targeted police operation to reduce property crime in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2001.
Abstract
There has been much research focused on the displacement of crime as a result of targeted policing activities. A topic that is less understood is the notion of a diffusion of crime control benefits following a targeted policing operation in which the positive effects of increased policing diffuses to the surrounding environment. The current study compared the property crime data, specifically burglary and vehicle offense data, for the ACT with property crime data for the surrounding areas of New South Wales following a targeted, intelligence-led police operation to reduce burglary in the ACT. The results indicated significantly lower car and burglary crime rates in the ACT following the implementation of the police operation. Smaller, yet significant, reductions in car crime and burglary rates were also observed in the area surrounding the ACT, suggesting a diffusion of crime control benefits. Future research should continue to look into the possibility of a diffusion of crime control benefits as the notion of diffusion is not yet well understood. Figures, table, references