The challenge
A large share of crime happens on a small number of street blocks.
The case
Research in many cities shows that a large share of crime happens on a small share of street blocks. Hot spots policing concentrates patrols and problem-solving on those places. Dozens of randomized and quasi-experimental studies, mostly in the US, find it reduces crime in the targeted areas, and crime tends not to simply move around the corner; nearby areas often benefit too. A Campbell systematic review of 65 studies found that 62 of 78 tests of hot spots policing reported noteworthy reductions in crime and disorder.
Why it worked
Targeting places rather than people produces measurable crime reductions. How it is done matters: problem-solving approaches build more community trust than aggressive stops.
Sources
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