Hot-Spots Policing
Definition
A tactic that concentrates patrol resources on small high-crime micro-locations (street segments, addresses, or intersections). Supported by consistent evidence from randomised controlled trials in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Effectiveness depends on targeting precision and officer behaviour at the hot spot.
- Target unit
- Street segments, addresses or intersections
- Evidence base
- Randomised controlled trials in the US, UK and Australia
- Key success factor
- Targeting precision and officer behaviour at the location
- Category
- Place-based policing tactic
Common questions
Does hot-spots policing just push crime to nearby streets?+
The bulk of the trial evidence finds a modest diffusion of benefit to surrounding blocks rather than displacement, though results vary by study and by how aggressively the tactic is implemented at the targeted location.
What officer behaviour matters most once a hot spot is targeted?+
Trials that pair hot-spot targeting with legitimacy-focused, problem-solving engagement tend to outperform those relying mainly on stops and arrests, suggesting the presence and manner of patrol matter as much as its location.
How does hot-spots policing differ from predictive policing?+
Hot-spots policing typically targets locations identified from historical, verified crime concentration data, while predictive policing uses forecasting algorithms to project future risk, a distinction that matters for both effectiveness and bias concerns.
Related terms
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