Problem-Oriented Policing
Definition
A model developed by Herman Goldstein in which police identify and address the specific conditions generating recurring crime or disorder, using the SARA model: Scanning (identify the problem), Analysis (diagnose causes), Response (targeted intervention), Assessment (evaluate effect).
- Originator
- Herman Goldstein
- Model
- SARA: Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment
- Focus
- Underlying conditions, not single incidents
- Contrast
- Reactive incident-by-incident policing
Common questions
How does problem-oriented policing differ from community policing?+
Community policing emphasises building trust between police and residents as an end in itself, while problem-oriented policing is an analytical method applied within any policing style, diagnosing the specific recurring conditions behind a crime pattern and designing a targeted response.
What happens in the Assessment stage of SARA if the response fails?+
The team evaluates whether the intervention actually reduced the problem using pre- and post-response data, and if it did not, the process returns to Analysis to reconsider the diagnosis rather than persisting with a response that has shown no effect.
Related terms
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