NCJ Number
206326
Date Published
2004
Length
43 pages
Annotation
This report presents evaluation findings concerning the impact of the Reducing Burglary Initiative projects across the Yorkshire, Humber, East Midlands, and Eastern regions of England.
Abstract
The Midlands Consortium, comprising Keele University and the Universities of Manchester and Leicester, evaluated 20 Strategic Development Projects (SDP) implementing the Reducing Burglary Initiative in England. Time-series evaluations assessed the impact of the SDP’s on reducing burglary. Anticipated components of the SDP intervention are examined, including area-wide situational crime prevention, location-specific situational crime prevention, property marking schemes, enforcement, and offender behavior interventions. Data used in the analysis were measured on a monthly basis and relate to three geographical areas: the target area, the buffer zone, and the rest of the area of the SDP. Overall, the analysis revealed varying levels of success of the projects; only six SDP’s showed significant burglary reductions in their target areas. There was little support among the SDP’s for prevention strategies focused on preventing repeat victimization or for the “anticipatory benefits” effects of the project. Despite this, most projects revealed a diffusion of crime reduction benefits and a net reduction of crime in targeted and surrounding areas. Successful projects were not isolated from other area programs and were aware of crime trends in the area. Other elements of successful projects included the use of complimentary interventions; the use of problem-solving approaches to intervention; and the use of local partnerships. Successful partnerships were noted as those involving local authorities and regeneration contractors, in contrast to partnerships managed from within the police service. Figures, tables, appendix, references