Situational Crime Prevention Evaluation Database

This is a collection of articles reporting evaluations of situational crime prevention initiatives. The collection is intended to facilitate research and assist practitioners in finding studies relevant to their current needs. It includes a complete bibliographical listing of studies with links to full text versions (where available).

To download a more expansive summary of each initiative, click here.

Title Citation Results
Crime and the City: Public Attitudes Towards Open-street CCTV in Glasgow Ditton, J. (2000). “Crime and the City: Public Attitudes Towards Open-street CCTV in Glasgow.” British Journal of Criminology 40(4):692-709 Fear of crime continued to be greater in treatment area compared to comparison areas, and did not improve from pre to post interviews.
Yes, It Works, No, It Doesn't: Comparing the Effects of Open-Street CCTV in Two Adjacent Scottish Town Centres Ditton, J., and E. Short (1999). “Yes, It Works, No, It Doesn't: Comparing the Effects of Open-Street CCTV in Two Adjacent Scottish Town Centres.” In K. Painter and N. Tilley (eds.), Surveillance of Public Space: CCTV, Street Lighting and Crime Prevention. Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 10. Monsey, N.Y.: Criminal Justice Press Airdrie: Crime decreased to 79% of pre period; Case clearance rates improved 8%. Glasgow: Crime increased to 109% of pre recorded crimes, and clearance rates decreased 4%.
The Cost Effectiveness of Improved Street Lighting as a Crime Prevention Measure Ditton, J., G. Nair and J. Bannister (1996). “The Cost Effectiveness of Improved Street Lighting as a Crime Prevention Measure.” Lighting Journal 61(4):251-256 Fifteen (15) crimes were prevented in experimental areas; for a life time cost savings of £1,531.06 in one area and £911.48 in the other.
Preventing Crime by Controlling Drug Dealing on Private Rental Property Eck, J. (1998). “Preventing Crime by Controlling Drug Dealing on Private Rental Property.” Security Journal 11(1):37-43 Treatment areas had more evictions than control. Treatment group 1 experienced 60% decline in reported crimes in 6 mos. Post
Preventing Robberies at Sub-Post Offices: An Evaluation of a Security Initiative Ekblom, P. (1987). Preventing Robberies at Sub-Post Offices: An Evaluation of a Security Initiative. Crime Prevention Unit; Paper 9. London: Home Office Reduced rate of completed robberies by about 45 per year overall. Tactical displacement (to firearm threats) was observed but they were less successful due to prevention measure, thus no appreciative effect on crime completion. Some target displacement observed to delivery raids, but not to level to offset benefits of prevention measures. Moreover, can't isolate hardened post offices as cause.
Safer Cities and Domestic Burglary Ekblom, P., H. Law, M. Sutton, P. Crisp and R. Wiggins (1996). Safer Cities and Domestic Burglary. Home Office Research Study, No. 164. London: Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate Between 1990 and 1992, burglary risks in the comparison cities rose by three per cent, In Safer Cities areas where there was no burglary action, risks showed a bigger increase, of 15 per cent. But where there was action, risks fell: by 10 per cent in low-action areas (under £1 of Safer Cities funds per household), 22 per cent in medium-action areas (£1 – £13), and by 43 per cent in high-action areas (over £13). The overall fall was 21 per cent.
Highgate Estate – Estate Based Management (Concierge) Initiative Farr, J., and P. Moynihan (1994). “Highgate Estate – Estate Based Management (Concierge) Initiative.” In S. Osborn (ed.), Housing Safe Communities: An Evaluation of Recent Initiatives. London: Safer Neighbourhoods Unit The number of recorded burglaries reduced by 33% during the implementation period and by a further 39% during the post implementation period, while rates increased across the estate overall.
An Experiment on the Prevention of Shoplifting Farrington, D., S. Bowen, A. Buckle, T. Burns-Howell, J. Burrows and M. Speed (1993). “An Experiment on the Prevention of Shoplifting.” In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 1. Monsey, N.Y.: Criminal Justice Press The results showed that: electronic tagging caused a lasting decrease in shoplifting; store redesign caused an immediate decrease that was wearing off after six weeks; and the uniformed guard had no effect on shoplifting.
Redesigning Hell: Preventing Crime and Disorder at the Port Authority Bus Terminal Felson, M., M. Belanger, G. Bichler, C. Bruzinski, G. Campbell, C. Fried, K. Grofik, I. Mazur, A. O'Regan, P. Sweeney, A. Ullman and L. Williams (1996). “Redesigning Hell: Preventing Crime and Disorder at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.” In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Preventing Mass Transit Crime. Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 6. Monsey, N.Y.: Criminal Justice Press By several indicators, crime was reduced, fear of crime diminished and order restored. No evidence of displacement was found.
Reducing Pub Hopping and Related Crime Felson, M.., R. Berends, B. Richardson and A. Veno (1997). “Reducing Pub Hopping and Related Crime.” In R. Homel (ed.), Policing for Prevention: Reducing Crime, Public Intoxication and Injury. Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 7. Monsey, N.Y.: Criminal Justice Press Pub hopping decreased and the rate of serious assaults decreased in treatment area from 117 to 64 per 100K population compared to an increase from 77 to 101 per 100k population in comparison surrounding cities.
The Kirkholt Burglary Prevention Demonstration Project, Rochdale Forrester, D., M. Chatterton and K. Pease (1988). The Kirkholt Burglary Prevention Demonstration Project, Rochdale. Crime Prevention Unit; Paper 13. London: Home Office, Crime Prevention Unit Reduction in burglary on the estate from 1 in 4 in 1986 period to 1 in 8 in same period of 1987. Repeat victimization fell to zero. Comparison area crime stayed about the same.
The Crime Displacement Hypothesis: An Empirical Examination Gabor, T. (1981). “The Crime Displacement Hypothesis: An Empirical Examination.” Crime and Delinquency 27(3):390-404 Burglary decreased in target dwellings and increased similarly in comparison area in post period. Displacement cited.
Evaluating 'Realistic Evaluation': Evidence from a Study of CCTV Gill, M., and V. Turbin (1999). “Evaluating 'Realistic Evaluation': Evidence from a Study of CCTV.” In K. Painter and N. Tilley (eds.), Surveillance of Public Space: CCTV, Street Lighting and Crime Prevention. Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 10. Monsey, N.Y.: Criminal Justice Press In one store effect of CCTV inconclusive. In the other store insertion of CCTV resulted in decrease of inventory shrinkage from £600 to £200.
The Impact of CCTV: Fourteen Case Studies Gill, M., J. Allen, J. Bryan, D. Kara, R. Little, S. Waples, A. Spriggs, J. Argomaniz, P. Jessiman, J. Kilworth and D. Swain (2005). The Impact of CCTV: Fourteen Case Studies. Home Office Online Report 15/05. London: Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate 3 of 14 case studies found significant reductions in crime; with others revealing either no reductions relative to comparison areas or inconclusive related to methodological limitations.
An Evaluation of Roseburg's Residential and Commercial Crime Prevention Project Goff, C. (1981). An Evaluation of Roseburg's Residential and Commercial Crime Prevention Project. Salem, Ore.: Oregon Law Enforcement Council For residential, in treatment area the rate of burglaries decreased only slightly (4.4 to 4.0), while larceny increased and attempted burglaries increased (1% to 2.6%). For retail, attempted and completed burglaries decreased (about 9%) while credit card fraud increased 25%.
Evaluation of the Devonport CCTV Scheme Goodwin, V. (2002). Evaluation of the Devonport CCTV Scheme. Hobart, Tasmania: Crime Prevention and Community Safety Council All crimes examined increased during post implementation of CCTV, except burglary which decreased. Community perceptions of CCTV were favorable.
Bank Robberies and Physical Security in Switzerland: A Case Study of the Escalation and Displacement Phenomena Grandjean, C. (1990). “Bank Robberies and Physical Security in Switzerland: A Case Study of the Escalation and Displacement Phenomena.” Security Journal 1(3):155-159 Banks with bullet proof glass for tellers experienced a lower rate of victimization compared to those without and they did not experience higher rates of hostage taking as claimed by an 'escalation' thesis.
Cleaning Up Drug Hot Spots in Oakland, California: The Displacement and Diffusion Effects Green, L. (1995). “Cleaning Up Drug Hot Spots in Oakland, California: The Displacement and Diffusion Effects.” Justice Quarterly 12(4):737-754 Study focused primarily on displacement; Nuisance abatement at drug houses not only successfully reduces crime in the target areas, but also achieved a diffusion of benefit effect which is the slight reduction of drug activity in nearby areas.
Town Centre CCTV: An Examination of Crime Reduction in Gillingham, Kent Griffiths, M. (2003). Town Centre CCTV: An Examination of Crime Reduction in Gillingham, Kent. Reading, U.K.: University of Reading The results show that Gillingham witnessed an average reduction of 35% of the total reported crime rate in the High Street and adjacent car parks compared to a 0.05% reduction in the control area.
Crime Prevention and Commercial Burglary Griswold, D. (1984). “Crime Prevention and Commercial Burglary.” In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case Studies. Albany, N.Y.: Harrow and Heston The results of the study discussed show that not only was there a significant reduction in commercial burglary, but the effect persisted.
Product Life Cycles and Crime: Automated Teller Machines and Robbery Guerette, R., and R.V. Clarke (2003). “Product Life Cycles and Crime: Automated Teller Machines and Robbery.” Security Journal 16(1):7-18 The reductions in ATM robberies in both New York and Los Angeles were significantly greater than the overall falls in robbery in each city when the increase in opportunities for ATM robberies was controlled for during the period of study. No tactical displacement from ATM robbery to bank robbery was found.
Targeting the Markets for Stolen Goods – Two Targeted Policing Initiative Projects Hale, C., C. Harris, S. Uglow, L. Gilling and A. Netten (2004). Targeting the Markets for Stolen Goods – Two Targeted Policing Initiative Projects. Home Office Development and Practice Report; 17. London: Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate Generally, reductions in the two project areas were about the same as reductions experience elswhere. In one respect, early indication of success is shown as project area had 9.4 per cent reduction in average recorded figures for burglary in a dwelling compared to 7.1 per cent force-wide.
An Evaluation of the Local Government Safety Action Projects in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay Hauritz, M., R. Homel, M. Townsley, T. Burrows and G. McIlwain (1998). An Evaluation of the Local Government Safety Action Projects in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay. Mt. Gravatt, Australia: Centre for Crime Policy and Public Safety, School of Justice Administration, Griffith University There was a decline of 56.5% in all aggressive and violent incidents, and a decline of at least 75% in physical assaults.
Environmental Design, Access Control, and Surveillance as Deterrents to Thefts in Hospitals Hemingway, R. (1989). “Environmental Design, Access Control, and Surveillance as Deterrents to Thefts in Hospitals.” Security Journal 1(1):47-57 The results showed that those areas that were designated as (1) cul-de-sac, (2) access controlled, (3) under surveillance by other employees, or a combination of all three factors, had a lower theft rate than other comparable areas of the hospital.
Citizens Against Crime: An Assessment of the Neighborhood Watch Program in Washington, D.C Henig, J. (1984). Citizens Against Crime: An Assessment of the Neighborhood Watch Program in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.: Center for Washington Area Studies, George Washington University There was no reduction of crime in treatment areas different than that experienced in comparison areas.
Street Lighting and Crime: The Cardiff Project Herbert, D., and L. Moore (1991). Street Lighting and Crime: The Cardiff Project. Swansea, Wales: University College of Swansea Crime increased in treatment areas, but no control so unknown differential effect. Pedestrian use of treated areas increased, fear of crime reduced, and citizen perceptions of government services improved.
Theft from Cars: Reduced or Displaced? Hesseling, R. (1995). “Theft from Cars: Reduced or Displaced?” European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research 3(3):79-92 The limited time frame of increased surveillance left abundant opportunity of offenders as they sought targets in different places and resorted to different offenses. Implicates importance of "dosage" of prevention programs.
Reducing Residential Crime and Fear: The Hartford Neighborhood Crime Prevention Program: Executive Summary Hollander, B. (1978). Reducing Residential Crime and Fear: The Hartford Neighborhood Crime Prevention Program: Executive Summary. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice The evidence is that rate of burglary and residents' perceptions of the incidence of burglary were clearly reduced (burglary rate decreased 42%), while a pattern of increased robbery/pursesnatch was halted.
Preventing Alcohol-Related Crime Through Community Action: The Surfers Paradise Safety Action Project Homel, R., M. Hauritz, R. Wortley, G. McIlwain and R. Carvolth (1997). “Preventing Alcohol-Related Crime Through Community Action: The Surfers Paradise Safety Action Project.” In R. Homel (ed.), Policing for Prevention: Reducing Crime, Public Intoxication and Injury. Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 7. Monsey, N.Y.: Criminal Justice Press Study reported sharp declines following the period in which a Code of Practice was instituted. Verbal abuse declined by 82%; arguments by 68%; and physical assaults by 52%. Post observational data collected over the summer of 1996, however, indicated that violence had returned to pre-project levels. Implicates issue of project sustainability.
Vehicle Watch and Car Theft: An Evaluation Honess, T., M. Maguire and E. Charman (1993). Vehicle Watch and Car Theft: An Evaluation. Crime Prevention Series; Paper 50. London: Home Office Police Research Group Results did not clearly reveal any reduction in vehicle theft due to program. Those enrolled in program did have lower probability of victimization but it is uncertain whether this is because of scheme or due to them comprising a less vulnerable population.

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