On problem-oriented policing: the Stockholm lecture

Abstract

This paper is an edited version of the speech given upon being awarded the 2018 Stockholm Prize in Criminology. After a brief introduction, the paper describes the concept of problem-oriented policing (POP), first proposed in 1979. It goes on to assess the extent to which the police have adopted POP, and its current status. POP is, in the immediate sense, aimed at a reduction in the incidence or severity of the problem on which attention is focused, and, in the broader sense, at improving the fundamentals of policing in a democratic society.

Using problem-oriented policing to address police problems through the study of body-worn camera footage

“…In 2018, Goldstein reiterated the important aspects of POP by saying that it called for police to ‘identify specific problems the public expected them to handle, to dig deeply into understanding each problem, and to think freshly and creatively about the best possible tailor-made response’ (Goldstein, 2018: 1). In a 2018 speech, Goldstein also acknowledged that when he initially conceived of this idea, he did not adequately consider how policing agencies would gain access to enough people with the research and assessment skills needed to fully implement this (often data-driven) approach.…”

“…In a 2018 speech, Goldstein also acknowledged that when he initially conceived of this idea, he did not adequately consider how policing agencies would gain access to enough people with the research and assessment skills needed to fully implement this (often data-driven) approach. Several solutions to this oversight have been implemented over time, one of which is for policing agencies to establish relationships with university-based researchers (Goldstein, 2018). While both Goldstein and the Police Foundation group expressed a desire for police departments to be able to develop problem analysis skills internally, the Police Foundation report notes that for some agencies or problems, this may not be possible or desirable, and outside researchers may be needed.…”

Beyond crime rates and community surveys: a new approach to police accountability and performance measurement

“…Traditional police metrics are also too narrow because they fail to address important aspects of police work (Maguire 2003). For example, up to 70% of police calls for service are not crime related (McFee and Taylor 2014; Di Matteo 2014), with many being in response to mental health issues (Coleman and Cotton 2014) or other non-criminal social problems like addictions, poverty, and homelessness (Goldstein 2018). These non-criminal social problems go unrecorded by traditional police metrics, but account for a large proportion of what the police actually do in the course of carrying out their normal duties.…”

“…We believe that a different approach to police organizational performance measurement is required: one that is more attuned to the expectations of local stakeholders, including governance and oversight bodies, as well as community members. An important starting point would require acknowledging the need for greater input and involvement by local stakeholders in discussions regarding the role of the police in a democratic society, realistic expectations for those undertaking these roles, and a consideration of the expectations of the people being served (Goldstein 2018;Sparrow 2015;Moore and Braga 2003). Appropriate organizational performance assessment frameworks, specific to the police service, could then be developed based on well-established evaluation principles (goal identification, logic models, tailored indicators, regular data collection/analysis, ameliorative action based on evidence, etc.…”

“…2 In doing so, police response becomes imperative rather than an elective that can be easily ignored by police leaders or to which they can merely pay lip service (Klockars 1988). Additionally, these goals are implemented at the organizational level, contributing to 'systematic' rather than episodic changes in policing and community safety (Goldstein 2018). These goals then become the standard that stakeholders can use to assess the performance of their police organizations and this process will contribute to greater transparency as well as police accountability and legitimacy.…”