Introduction: Starting the Conversation

This monograph starts from the perspective that may be different than many books and articles about evidence-based policing. Evidence-based policing is defined as ‘using research and scientific processes to inform police decisions’ (Lum et al. 2012). Lum and her colleagues (2012) have led a conversation about the disconnect between what is known from research what ‘works better’ when applied to policing, and the lamentable state of its limited use in the situations where police make decisions and plan action to tackle crime, to protect victims and to prevent offending. She and her colleagues are not alone to feel impatient about the slow uptake of systematic studies improving routine policing practices. Nearly every treatise these days discussing evidence-based practices in policing and the wider criminal justice system reminds the reader that we are at the beginning of this journey. Sitting aside this is a healthy amount of academic discourse on the challenges of working alongside policing culture from a scientific backdrop—illustrating issues such as police machismo, lack of receptivity and uncertainty as to the quality of evidence necessary to base operational decisions (Laycock 2012; Reiner 1992; Cope 2004; Chan 1997). Indeed, one aspect that shines through here is the lack of an agreed consensus in how to embed evidence-based policing, something in itself that could be hampering uptake. There is no consistent voice for police practitioners to fall back upon to help them be evidence based and act as evidence based professionals. The purpose of this book is to help fill this gap and to share our varied experiences on the use of evidence-based research inside a police service today.