Become a Problem-Solving Crime analyst (In 55 Small Steps)

1. Become a Problem-Solving Crime analyst(In 55 Small Steps) Ronald V. Clarke Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Problem-Oriented Policing Conference Charlotte, 28-30 October 2004

4. Written by John Eck and me Commissioned by UK Home Office Published by Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science in London 1000 free copies to UK police  Can be purchased (see flyer) Can be downloaded from JDI website  The manual

5. Jill Dando Institute Website www.jdi.ucl.ac.uk

6. This presentation • Background to development of manual • Purpose of the manual • Design principles • Future

7. Background Charlotte consulting experience with Goldstein Norway meeting on POP Police Foundation/COPS meeting on Role of Crime analysts

8. Charlotte experience with Goldstein (1999/2000) Three projects: 1. Construction site thefts 2. Car-related thefts Uptown parking lots 3. Drug dealing related violence in deprived inner city neighborhood 4. First two projects accessible at Popcenter website

9. Lessons of Charlotte Experience • Projects depended heavily on analysts • Analysts were skilled • But lacked knowledge of: •         Problem-oriented policing •         Limitations of reactive policing •         Situational crime prevention •         Environmental criminology •         Displacement etc

10. Norway meeting (April 2002) Academic meeting to take stock of POP • How to mainstream POP • How to raise POP quality

12. Conclusions of Norway meeting POP more difficult than it seems: •  Need to provide more tools for police • Support the vital role of crime analysts

13. COPS/Police Foundation Meeting (March 2002) Crime analysts need more support Danger of losing new analysts with GIS skills Many need training in POP and Environmental Criminology

14. Who is the manual for ? • Experienced analysts (Officers might also find it helpful) • Not a general text on crime analysis • Nor confined to mapping • What an analyst must know to support POP

15. Objectives of the Manual 1.  Primer on concepts: • Problem-oriented policing • Environmental criminology 2.  Motivate crime analysts 3.  Contribute to development of profession

16. Concepts and Theories • POP Concepts • SARA • Crime triangle • Wolves, Ducks, Dens

17. Concepts and theories (2) Crime concentrations: 80/20 rule Hot spots Repeat victims Hot products Risky facilities

18. Concepts and theories (3) • Routine activity theory • Capable guardian • Place manager • Crime pattern theory • Crime generators, crime attractor • Journey to crime

19. Concepts and theories (4) • Rational choice theory • Crime specificity • Think thief! • Situational Crime Prevention • Increase effort • Increase risks • Reduce rewards • Remove excuses • Reduce provocations

20. Concepts and theories (5) Evaluation concepts: • Displacement (5 Types) • Diffusion of benefits • Anticipatory benefits

21. Motivate Analysts to do POP • Long-term involvement – months even years • Become more proactive • Suggest analyses • Push for solutions • Don’t simply respond to requests • Act more like a researcher • Become the local crime expert • Collect own data • Take responsibility for implementation • And success/failure!

22. Contribute to the development of the profession • Many highly skilled analysts recently recruited • Working conditions not commensurate • GIS skills are marketable outside police • Many analysts seem adrift – little professional identity • Must develop the profession or lose these analysts

23. Nick Ross • Presenter of Crimewatch • Founder of Jill Dando Institute

24. Nick Ross’ Inspirational Foreword YOU WHO READ THIS MANUAL ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU THINK. CRIME ANALYSTS ARE NOT WELL-KNOWN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. YOU DON’T STAR IN PEAK-TIME TV SERIES OR BIG-SCREEN MOVIES AS DO BEHAVIOURAL PROFILERS OR FORENSIC SCIENTISTS. EVEN SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE POLICE AREN’T SURE WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT. BUT YOU ARE THE NEW FACE OF POLICING

25. Intended users of manualare those who: • Use modern computing facilities with comprehensive databases • Use mapping software • Produce weekly/monthly crime reports at force/beat level • Conduct studies (e.g. relationship between offender addresses and burglary) • Conduct evaluations of interventions (e.g. crackdowns) • Have basic knowledge of statistics and research

26. Manual’s design objectives •   Attractive •   Cover •  2-color printing •  Robust •   Reference – but not to be shelved •   Easy to read and use •   Glossary and Indexes

27. Organization of the manual • Prepare yourself • Learn about problem-oriented policing • Study environmental criminology • SCAN for crime problems • ANALYSE in depth • Find a practical RESPONSE • ASSESS the impact • Communicate effectively

28. 55 STEPS • Each step – one topic • 1000 words max • Two facing pages – lie flat on desk when open • Minimum of references

29. 55 STEPS (Continued) • Explain the topic – and how to use it • Premium on clear writing • Plenty of examples and illustrations • Direct style speaking to the analyst • Summaries

30. Summary for Step 51. “Use Simple Figures” • Keep them simple. Don’t over package. • Don’t use superficial effects, like 3-D. • Avoid pie charts. • Use bar charts for data that comes in categories. • Use line graphs for trends over time. • Use labels effectively. • Choose titles carefully. • Make them stand on their own, without help from the text.

31. Directly addressing the analyst 1. Read this first 2. Rethink your job 3. Be the local crime expert 4. Know the limits of conventional policing

32. Diffusion of benefits

33.         The Crime Triangle

35. Crime pattern theory

36. Journey to crime

37. Map of car theft rates in Charlotte Uptown

38. Car Theft rates by Parking Place

40. Trend analysis

41. What next? • U.S. Version: • U.S. language and spelling • U.S. Examples • More steps (60) • Translations – Swedish/French • Short training courses of one week (NZ)