evidence-based policing © college of policing limited 2013 levin wheller principal research officer...
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Evidence-based policing
© College of Policing Limited 2013
Levin WhellerPrincipal Research OfficerKnowledge, Research and Practice Unit
Core mission
• Protect the public interest• Set and enhance first-class national standards of
professionalism to ensure excellence in operational policing
• Identify evidence of what works in policing and share best practice
• Support the education and professional development of police officers and staff
• Enable and motivate staff and partners to work together to achieve a shared purpose
“Protect the public and support the fight against crime by ensuring
professionalism in policing”
Objectives
“Regional networks will bring together higher & further education & policing professionals to expand the evidence base”
College Strategic Intent, Sept 2013
“A fundamental element of our role as a professional body is to be a catalyst for the development & use of knowledge and research by and for those working in policing”
College Strategic Intent, Sept 2013
“It is in the public interest to show that what the police are doing is working…”
Home Secretary, Supts Conference, 11 Sept 2012
A golden opportunity…
‘Using the best available evidence to inform decisionsabout practices and policies’
What does Evidence Based Policing really mean?
ASK
TEST
LEARN
ADAPT
Understand the problem, reflect on current practice, build hypotheses…
Seek to answer the question through rigorous testing (e.g. experiments, trials, systematic reviews)
Learn about ‘what works?’ (and doesn’t…)
Adapt policy and practice to reflect findings
ASK ‘WHY?’
Why does it matter?
• How do we know what activity is effective?
• What are the risks if we don’t have any robust evidence about what works?
• Some well-meaning interventions may have zero impact or worse – may cause harm
• The scared straight story…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2638380/Pupils-sent-jail-school-Children-taken-field-trips-visit-rapists-murderers-deter-life-crime.html
Scale of the challenge
What works centres…
Key levers for change• Authorised Professional Practice
• Curriculum, learning and development
• Recruitment, selection & promotion
• Organisational development
Evidence at right time in right place Online, email, phone, peers
www.college.police.uk
POLKA, library, APP, MLE
Embedding evidence into practice
Partnership work is critical
The more they know about research the less they believe the policealone have enough information about crime and what to do about it
ANDThe more they are exposed to research
the more likely they are to be willing to do experiments
SO
Palmer (2011) Survey of inspectors and chief inspectors in Greater Manchester Police Lum et al (2012) Receptivity to research in Policing
Surveys show officers rely on and prefer professional experience rather than research
BUT
When research is part of their professional experience - they will be much more likely to use it!
College support to forcesSharing knowledge• EBP master classes• Research Map and RCT register• Evidence based champions
Building capability • Randomised trials• Evidence Base Camp • Evaluation surgeries
Building partnerships• Research Fairs• Innovation Fund• Regional networks
1048979Responding to prostitution
262
72
58
46
38
Available for synthesis
411,229Supporting mental well-being
25844Reducing theft from the person
1075,665TOTAL
231,205Barriers to career progression
181,408Acute Mental Health Crisis
Useful StudiesAbstracts returned
Area
1048979Responding to prostitution
262
72
58
46
38
Available for synthesis
411,229Supporting mental well-being
25844Reducing theft from the person
1075,665TOTAL
231,205Barriers to career progression
181,408Acute Mental Health Crisis
Useful StudiesAbstracts returned
Area
http://www.college.police.uk/en/20878.htm
Policing as a role model for the future
Perhaps the most exciting aspect … is the opportunity it creates to link research evidence directly to professional standards […]
If it succeeds, the College of Policing will provide a powerful model that can be replicated in other areas of social practice.