The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has released the findings of a new study revealing that the New South Wales Police Force’s Suspect Target Management Plan (STMP) was an effective tool for reducing crime.
The BOCSAR study examined the offending rates of individuals in the 12 months before and after their placement on an STMP which was designed to reduce crime among high risk offenders through proactive policing strategies.
According to the police, there are two types of STMP: STMP-II, which aims to reduce general offending and DV-STMP aimed at reducing domestic violence (DV) related crime.
The BOCSAR study examined the behaviour of 10,103 general offenders and 1,028 domestic violence offenders, finding that both programs were associated with high reductions in crime.
It found a 16 per cent decrease in the probability of at least one new violent or property crime within 12 months of an offender being placed on STMP-II and a 43 per cent reduction in the probability of at least one new DV offence within 12 months of being placed on DV-STMP.
The study found STMP-II to be more effective for young people and non-Aboriginal people. It also found that the crime reduction benefit for both programs appeared to operate predominately through deterrence rather than incapacitation.
Executive Director of BOCSAR, Jackie Fitzgerald, said the evaluation filled an important gap in understanding the impact of this policing program.
“STMP has been criticised for targeting vulnerable groups such as juveniles and Aboriginal people,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“While our evaluation confirms that these groups are over-represented among STMP participants, this now needs to be considered in light of the considerable crime reduction associated with participating in the program.”
BOCSAR’s 31-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
