What is hotspot policing?

What is hotspot policing?

Hotspot policing is a well-documented crime prevention initiative that sees us focus efforts such as patrols and other initiatives/plans on targeted locations where data indicates there is significantly more crime than other locations.

The strategy is based on the premise that crime and disorder are not evenly spread within neighbourhoods and, instead, are clustered in small locations.

Focusing police capacity on those locations aims to prevent crime in the specific areas and further reduce overall crime levels in the wider geographic area.

How does hotspot policing work?

The impact of hotspot policing interventions has a 'diffusion' effect where the presence of police has a positive impact on areas beyond the controlled hotspot zones.

This demonstrates that crime prevention initiatives bring positive benefits even after police have left the area.

There is evidence that crimes may be deterred up to three days after a police patrol in a hotspot zone.

We also find that if an offender sees the ‘cost’ outweigh the benefits of the criminal act i.e. offenders recognise that there is increased likelihood their crime will be detected, and they could be arrested through hotspot policing, crime also reduces.

How were the hotspots in Warwickshire chosen?

To identify key locations in Warwickshire, we used geofencing to analyse 2023 crime data, looking at ASB, Public Order Offences, Criminal Damage Offences, Robbery, Violence Against the Person and Possession of Weapons.

The locations are identified in the form of equal-sized hexagons to ensure consistent areas to patrol and to monitor change. We were able to link the majority of hotspots to areas most commonly associated with the nighttime economy (NTE) such as pubs, bars and nightclubs, and used temporal analysis to identify 'hot times' within the hotspots, finding an increase in anti-social and violent criminality as we move into the afternoon and evening hours and weekends.

How are we using hotspots for Op Resolve?

We have officers carrying out targeted patrols and demonstrating visible deterrence in hotspot areas across the county. This helps in short-term prevention of ASB and serious violence, but we must also apply a problem solving approach for sustainable, longer-term, success in preventing crime.

We are therefore also using initiatives that set out evidence-based interventions to address and prevent ASB and serious violence in and around the identified hotspots.

This includes work to amplify the visibility of patrols across a range of social media channels, liaison with businesses located in our hotspots, and education and engagement with school children on what ASB means and how it could affect them. We're also having conversations and providing toolkits on how to help prevent it.

Our campaign Hero Mode On is designed to help with this. Find out more on the ‘Hero Mode On’ page. 

Can I get involved?

Yes! We always welcome feedback on what we're doing well and what we can do better. 

If you see officers while they're out and about conducting patrols in the hotspot areas, please approach them and tell them what you think.

You may also see posters in some of our hotspot areas asking for feedback.  Please scan the QR codes to let us know how safe you feel in an area. 

Equally, if you see something that's not right, you can also report it online through our website.