The Global Policing Database (GPD) is a world-first repository of policing evaluation research, developed specifically to support police practitioners and policy makers to translate research into evidence-based policing.
Evidence-based policing is an approach that brings together law enforcement knowledge and training with empirical research evidence, enabling fair and just reforms in policing that maximise efficiency. By accessing the best available research evidence on police and policing practices and interventions, police are better equipped to make decisions based on evidence of ‘what works,’ increasing the likelihood of fair and effective outcomes.
Globally, police organizations address a wide range of challenging problems. Local and global events create public scrutiny of policing, casusing a mounting push for evidence-based policies and policing practices. Evidence-based (and led) policing reform is now at the forefront of societal demands globally. Our communities call for policing agencies to use fair and evidence-based best-practice approaches, driving the need for police and policy makers to access a comprehensive and robust repository about what works in policing.
Ad hoc and online searches for policing-related research can generate huge amounts of information. Finding a reliable, consistent and easy to access repository of high-quality, impact evaluations of police and policing is like finding a needle in the haystack. Standard search engine queries lack scrutiny and assessments of relevance and quality. Academic database searches offer highly valuable full-text academic publications that often require pay-per-view access. Practitioner-led studies are even harder to locate sometimes found in the “grey literature” on government websites. All of these existing databases (e.g., ProQuest, EBSCO, Wiley online etc), search engines (e.g., Google Scholar) and grey literature sources (e.g., Crime & Justice Research Alliance, UK Ministry of Justice) contain very valuable information. The GPD uses all of these sources to bring together a comprehensive repository of high-quality police and policing evaluation studies.
The GPD offers a global resource to connect police policy makers and practitioners with high-quality evaluation research to help guide development and implementation of evidence-based policing.