The past year has seen many developments in EBP. From cutting-edge trials to systematic reviews, research in 2024 has provided actionable insights for practitioners. The problem is, there are too many, scattered too far and wide to keep up. So, to make things a bit easier, here’s a recap on some of the headlines from impact studies that came out this year.
The studies discussed here are ones I’ve come across personally using unsystematic methods—they don’t represent a comprehensive review of the field; I encourage you to explore further (https://www.college.police.uk/support-forces/practices is a great place) and apologies to any authors of groundbreaking research that I’ve missed out. In the list below I’ve tried to tease out some practical implications and just as importantly, the limitations of the research are also noted.
With that in mind, here are 10 interesting ‘what (definitely, maybe, not sure tbh) works’ findings from 2024.
Potentially Game-Changing Insights:
Promising Evidence with Clear Applications
1. Mobile Apps to Boost Hotspot Policing
A trial with Thames Valley Police tested a mobile tasking app, which almost doubled officer patrol time, as measured by GPS. While meaningful reductions in violent crime weren’t observed, the intervention shows how digital tools can optimize resource allocation efficiently.
Read further if: you are looking to enhance patrol efficiency or integrate scalable tech solutions into daily operations
But look out for: the lack of violent crime reductions in this study and challenges in applying the model to areas with low levels of existing crime.
2. Training Reduces Use of Force and Injuries
In Avon & Somerset, scenario-based training involving more than 1,800 officers reduced civilian injuries by 33% and use-of-force incidents by 8-11%. This highlights the potential of realistic, conflict-focused training to improve public interactions and officer accountability.
Read further if: you need evidence for prioritizing training programs aimed at reducing harm during police encounters.
But look out for: the single-force context of the study, which limits generalisability, and the lack of long-term follow-up to measure sustained effects.
3. Private Security Lowers Sexual Misconduct in Train Stations
A trial across 51 train stations in England and Wales found that deploying enhanced private security undertaking proactive engagement reduced incidents of unwanted sexual behaviour and violence by 66%. This demonstrates the effectiveness of focused security interventions in high-footfall public areas.
Read further if: you manage public spaces and need strategies to improve safety and reduce specific types of crime.
But look out for: the study’s narrow focus on specific behaviours and its inability to address broader crime prevention or displacement effects.
Promising Ideas, More Research Needed:
Evidence with Potential for Scaling
4. Mindfulness Improves Officer Well-Being
Police officers who participated in mindfulness programs reported modest reductions in stress and burnout. This could be a low-cost, impactful approach to improving officer mental health and resilience under pressure.
Read further if: you are looking to implement mental health initiatives for police staff that are evidence-backed and scalable.
But look out for: the reliance on self-reported outcomes and small sample sizes, which limit the strength of the findings. This review also only found a handful of studies and none yet in the UK.
5. Health-Based Diversion for Young Offenders
The Gateway Conditional Caution trial in Hampshire focused on health and well-being rather than punishment for around 400 low-level offences. While long-term impacts on reoffending are unclear, the approach highlights the potential of multi-agency collaborations to address vulnerabilities. Reported health indicators in the diversion group were improved.
Read further if: you are exploring diversion programs to tackle underlying health and social drivers of low-level offending.
But look out for: high attrition rates and the challenge of replicating such programs without strong multi-agency partnerships.
6. Educating Children on Online Safety
The ThinkUKnow program (a 60–90-minute classroom session by police) improved children’s understanding of online risks by 25%. However, behavioural changes were less evident, suggesting the need for stronger emphasis on practical skills and broader support networks.
Read further if: you are delivering educational programs on online safety and need a structured, police-led model.
But look out for: the limited behavioural impact and ensure future programs address risky behaviours directly. This is not a UK-based study so we don’t know yet what the effects will be here.
Emerging Evidence:
We Need More Research
7. Victim Communication Matters
A trial in Israel found that callbacks from investigators significantly improved victim satisfaction compared to letters or calls from other personnel. Procedural justice callbacks though had mixed results.
Read further if: you are developing victim engagement strategies and need evidence on effective communication practices.
But look out for: the study’s single-region (non-UK) context and the mixed results for different communication approaches.
8. Predictive Policing: Proceed with Caution
A review of 161 Predictive policing studies has shown very little real-world testing (just six of the 161!). Where there was, results showed localized successes in reducing property crime but not violent crime. None of the studies addressed ethical concerns, including algorithmic bias and over-policing.
Read further if: you are considering predictive tools and need insights into their potential benefits and risks.
But look out for: limited evidence on long-term effectiveness and the risk of public trust erosion without transparency.
9. Police-Security Collaboration Enhances Productivity
Collaboration between police and private security (at five large train stations) increased proactive crime management efforts but didn’t reduce overall crime. Partnerships need clearer goals and evaluation frameworks to justify investments.
Read further if: you are working on police-security collaboration models and want to enhance resource utilization.
But look out for: the lack of direct crime reduction evidence and potential misalignment of goals between agencies.
10. Tailored Early Intervention Versus Reoffending Risks
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (delivered by Liaison and Diversion practitioners) in police custody has been tested in Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS region. Around 450 participants were randomly assigned to receive tailored interventions aimed at reducing reoffending among young people. The trial is due to report any time now.
Read further if: you are designing youth interventions that address emotional and psychological needs rather than focusing solely on punitive measures.
But look out for: the results aren’t in yet!
If you want to read further on any of these but can’t access the papers because of paywalls, let us know. We can help get in touch with the authors to see if they have any Christmas spirit!