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
Lessons from Lisson Green: An Evaluation of Walkway Demolition on a British Housing Estate Poyner, B. (1994). “Lessons from Lisson Green: An Evaluation of Walkway Demolition on a British Housing Estate.” In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 3. Monsey, N.Y.: Criminal Justice Press Post removal of skywalks and insertion of lobby phone access the threat of robberies or purse snatches on the walkways had virtually disappeared. Resident perceptions of crime reduction were greater than the numbers suggested for other crimes and fear of crime was largely reduced.
Video Cameras and Bus Vandalism Poyner, B. (1992). “Video Cameras and Bus Vandalism.” In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case Studies. Guilderland, N.Y.: Harrow and Heston The number of seat repairs to buses dropped by two thirds and the number of personel used to clean buses was reduced from 6 to 2.
Situational Crime Prevention in Two Parking Facilities Poyner, B. (1991). “Situational Crime Prevention in Two Parking Facilities.” Security Journal 2(2):96-101 Overall crime was reduced by about 50 percent in treatment parking garage. Crimes also declined in comparison lots suggesting diffusion of benefit.
Reducing Theft from Shopping Bags in City Center Markets Poyner, B., and B. Webb (1992). “Reducing Theft from Shopping Bags in City Center Markets.” In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case Studies. Albany, N.Y.: Harrow and Heston Achieved 40% reduction in thefts after 1year and 70% reduction after additional 2 years.
Illuminating Crime: The Impact of Street Lighting on Calls for Police Service Quinet, K., and S. Nunn (1998). “Illuminating Crime: The Impact of Street Lighting on Calls for Police Service.” Evaluation Review 22(6):751-779 Of the nine target areas, six showed evidence of lower CFS volumes after more lighting. Two lighted areas had a lower mean weekly CFS after installation. The more illuminated target area experienced a greater reduction in average CFS for property and miscellaneous crimes than did the control areas.
Lagerland Lost: An Experiment in Keeping Drinkers Off the Streets in Central Coventry and Elsewhere Ramsay, M. (1990). Lagerland Lost: An Experiment in Keeping Drinkers Off the Streets in Central Coventry and Elsewhere. Crime Prevention Unit; Paper 22. London: Home Office, Crime Prevention Unit Comparing the findings of the 'before' and 'after' surveys, there was a modest but clear reduction in fear, to judge by various behavioural indicators, among city center visitors.
An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Automobile Parts Marking and Anti-Theft Devices on Prevention Theft Rhodes, W., and R. Kling (2003). An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Automobile Parts Marking and Anti-Theft Devices on Prevention Theft. Cambridge, Mass.: Abt Associates According to one estimate, parts marking reduces automobile theft by 138 to 207 cars per 100,000 registered automobiles. According to another estimate, parts marking reduces car theft by 220 to 300 automobiles per 100,000 registered automobiles. By one estimate, anti-theft devices reduce automobile thefts by between 311 and 445 per 100,000 registered cars per year. By another estimate, they reduce thefts by between 413 and 475 per 100,000 registered cars per year.
Determining the Social Effects of a Legal Reform: The British 'Breathalyser' Crackdown of 1967 Ross, H. L., D. Campbell and G. Glass (1970). “Determining the Social Effects of a Legal Reform: The British 'Breathalyser' Crackdown of 1967.” American Behavioral Scientist 13(4):493-509 Revealed that use of breathalyzer by police (subsequent to law enactment) in Britain successfully reduced the number of auto related casualties.
Selling Crime Prevention: The Evaluation of a Mass Media Campaign Sacco, V., and R. Silverman (1981). “Selling Crime Prevention: The Evaluation of a Mass Media Campaign.” Canadian Journal of Criminology 23(2):191-202 The evidence reviewed in this paper suggests that the Provincial mass media campaign was characterized by an effectiveness structure of the following order: large numbers of Albertans were exposed to the campaign; a considerably smaller number of residents perceived campaign themes and messages as salient; only a negligible number of residents altered their behavior in response to the campaign.
Assessing the Police Use of Decoy Vehicles Sallybanks, J. (2001). Assessing the Police Use of Decoy Vehicles. Police Research Series; Paper 137. London: Home Office, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit Over the period studied (August 1995 to December 1998) both vehicle theft and Transit van theft fell in Stockton and across the rest of the force. Transit van theft fell by 60% in Stockton and by 56% across the rest of the force. Total vehicle theft also fell but by less – 44% in Stockton and 20% across the rest of the force.
Developing a Picture of CCTV in Southwark Town Centres: Final Report Sarno, C., M. Hough and M. Bulos (1999). Developing a Picture of CCTV in Southwark Town Centres: Final Report. London: Criminal Policy Research Unit, South Bank University In the year following CCTV installation recorded crime in target areas fell by between 10% and 12% compared to pre-CCTV levels. This reduction was more than in the comparison areas.
The Halo Effect: Psychological Deterrence of Electronic Security Systems Scherdin, M. (1992). “The Halo Effect: Psychological Deterrence of Electronic Security Systems.” In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case Studies. Albany, N.Y.: Harrow and Heston Book inventory shrinkage decreased 83 percent following implementation of electronic surveillance tags. Though not tagged, rate of theft of audio visual material also declined 80 percent.
Neighborhood-Based Antiburglary Strategies: An Analysis of Public and Private Benefits from the Portland Program Schneider, A. (1986). “Neighborhood-Based Antiburglary Strategies: An Analysis of Public and Private Benefits from the Portland Program.” In D. Rosenbaum (ed.), Community Crime Prevention: Does It Work? Beverly Hills, Calif.: Sage The neighborhoodbased burglary reduction program reduced burglaries for those who participated. In the high crime areas of Portland more than 20% of the homes could expect to be burglarized at least once a year. This was reduced to about 8% for participating households in those areas—a rate approximately the same as for participating households throughout the city.
Program Evaluation Research: An Experimental Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of an Armed Robbery Intervention Program Schnelle, J., R. Kirchner, F. Galbaugh, M. Domash, A. Carr and L. Larson (1979). “Program Evaluation Research: An Experimental Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of an Armed Robbery Intervention Program.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 12(4):615-623 The average number of strong-arm robberies did not change appreciably over any phase of the evaluation. Strong-arm robberies averaged 42.8 per month during baseline, and 42.5 during intervention.
Easton/Ashley, Bristol: Lighting Improvements: Case Study Assessment Shaftoe, H. (1994a). “Easton/Ashley, Bristol: Lighting Improvements: Case Study Assessment.” In S. Osborn (ed.), Housing Safe Communities: An Evaluation of Recent Initiatives. London: Safe Neighbourhoods Unit Recorded crime figures for the three treatment areas show no associations between the introduction of street lighting schemes and changes in night crime levels. A breakdown of crimes committed before and after midnight was also available but this revealed no discernible differences. There were some reductions in crimes committed at night (in beats E and GJ) but this could not be associated with the lighting improvements .
Niddrie House Estate – Defensible Space Scheme Shaftoe, H. (1994b). “Niddrie House Estate – Defensible Space Scheme.” In S. Osborn (ed.), Housing Safe Communities: An Evaluation of Recent Initiatives. London: Safe Neighbourhoods Unit The overall recorded crime rate dropped sharply in the six months from July to December 1989. The rate at this time was 61% lower than it had been in the preceding six months and 75% lower than it had been in the equivalent period in 1987. This lower crime rate has been sustained.
Effects of Gun Seizures on Gun Violence: 'Hot Spots' Patrol in Kansas City Sherman, L., and D. Rogan (1995). “Effects of Gun Seizures on Gun Violence: 'Hot Spots' Patrol in Kansas City.” Justice Quarterly 12(4):673-693 Over six month period hot spot policing of gun violence area with murder rate 20 times higher than national average produced a 49 percent reduction in gun crimes with no apparent displacement.
Crime Prevention Through Mass Media: An Evaluation Silverman, R., and V. Sacco (1980). Crime Prevention Through Mass Media: An Evaluation. Edmonton, Alberta: Centre for Criminological Research, Population Research Laboratory, University of Alberta While 87% of survey respondants were familiar with the media campaign only those who perceived crime as an immediate concern (e.g. salient issue) were likely to carry out actions to reduce their risk of victimization.
Effect of Closed Circuit Television on Urban Violence Sivarajasingam, V., and J. Shepherd (1999). “Effect of Closed Circuit Television on Urban Violence.” Journal of Accident and Emergency Medicine 16(4):225-257 Data from two hospital departments (Swansea (+3%) and Rhyl (+45%)) showed increases in recorded assaults after CCTV installation but a decrease (12%) in the largest centre, Cardiff. In contrast, police data demonstrated changes in the opposite direction (-44%, -24%, and +20% respectively) contributing to an overall decrease of 9%.
Effect of Urban Closed Circuit Television on Assault Injury and Violence Detection Sivarajasingam, V., J. Shepherd and K. Matthews (2003). “Effect of Urban Closed Circuit Television on Assault Injury and Violence Detection.” Injury Prevention 9(4):312-316 Assault related emergency department attendances decreased in intervention centres (3% decrease) and increased in control centres (11% increase). Overall, changes in emergency department assault attendance in CCTV and control centres were significantly different (t test, p,0.05). Conversely, Police recorded violence increased in CCTV (11% increase) and control centres (5% increase).
Crime Reduction, Diffusion and Displacement: Evaluating the Effectiveness of CCTV Skinns, D. (1998). “Crime Reduction, Diffusion and Displacement: Evaluating the Effectiveness of CCTV.” In C. Norris, J. Moran and G. Armstrong (eds.), Surveillance, Closed Circuit Television and Social Control. Aldershot, U.K.: Ashgate A modest net effect reduction of 6% in crime was a achieved with the implementation of CCTV. This takes into account displacement and diffusion of benefit effects.
Subway Graffiti in New York City: 'Getting Up' vs. 'Meanin it and Cleanin It' Sloan-Howitt, M., and G. Kelling (1990). “Subway Graffiti in New York City: 'Getting Up' vs. 'Meanin it and Cleanin It'”. In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case Studies. Albany, N.Y.: Harrow and Heston Over six year period all goals for cleaned train cars were achieved. By May 1989, the final year, all subway cars were graffiti free.
Between the Lines: An Evaluation of the Secured Car Park Award Scheme Smith, D., M. Gregson and J. Morgan (2003). Between the Lines: An Evaluation of the Secured Car Park Award Scheme. Home Office Research Study; No. 266. London: Home Office, Research, Development and Statistical Directorate. (#172) The situational prevention scheme successfully reduced crime and fear of crime among high crime car parks and increased the usage and profit of the car park.
An Independent Evaluation of the Installation of CCTV Cameras for Crime Prevention in the Whitehawk Estate, Brighton Squires, P. (2003). An Independent Evaluation of the Installation of CCTV Cameras for Crime Prevention in the Whitehawk Estate, Brighton. Brighton, U.K.: Health and Social Policy Research Centre, University of Brighton Crime continued to at the same rate and in some cases increased post implementation of CCTV. However, resident perceived that crime conditions had improved as a result of the cameras.
CCTV and Crime Reduction in Crawley: Follow-up Study Squires, P. (2000). CCTV and Crime Reduction in Crawley: Follow-up Study 2000. Brighton, U.K.: Health and Social Policy Research Centre, University of Brighton Total crime in CCTV area decreased during first 6 mos after implementation but increased 30 percent in post two year period. Violent crime increased 100 percent while burglary and shoplifting decreased 25 and 22 percent, respectively. Increase attributed to 'magnification effect' meaning camera was capturing more violent incidents that perhaps were taking place unnoticed before.
An Evaluation of the Ilford Town Center CCTV System Squires, P. (1998). An Evaluation of the Ilford Town Center CCTV System. Brighton, U.K.: Health and Social Policy Research Centre, University of Brighton In 5 mos post implementation of cameras crime decreased 20 percent. By end of 1997 crime was down 17 percent. Citizens fear of crime in CCTV area decreased and perceptions improved.
The Effectiveness of Taxi Partitions: The Baltimore Case Stone, J., and D. Stevens (1999). The Effectiveness of Taxi Partitions: The Baltimore Case. Knoxville, TN: Southeastern Transportation Center, University of Tennessee Comparing the 12-month periods before and after the mandate the data shows that assaults on taxi drivers decreased 56%. Data also show that between the years 1991 when only 5% of the cabs had shields and 1997 when all did, assaults decreased 88%.
Hartlepool: A Case Study in Burglary Reduction Sturgeon-Adams, L., S. Adamson and N. Davidson (2005). Hartlepool: A Case Study in Burglary Reduction. Hull, U.K.: Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Hull Treatment area experienced a burglary reduction of 25 percent in the first two years, and achieved a net reduction of 55 burglaries after trends in the surrounding area had been 12. Removed. Reductions continued over a further two years, resulting in a total saving of 138 burglaries. As a whole the project was cost-beneficial, with net benefits after two years of £64,000.
Using Repeat Victimization to Counter Commercial Burglary: The Leicester Experience Taylor, G. (1999). “Using Repeat Victimization to Counter Commercial Burglary: The Leicester Experience.” Security Journal 12(1):41-52 In both target areas, burglaries showed continued sequential monthly declines post project implementation
Business as Usual: An Evaluation of Small Business and Crime Initiative Tilley, N., and M. Hopkins (1993). Business as Usual: An Evaluation of Small Business and Crime Initiative. Police Research Series; Paper 95. London: Home Office, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit Overall crime was reduced in target areas by 41 percent a rate of decrease greater than the 32 percent experienced in non-targeted districts.

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