Showing how much research is available on specific topics in policing.
Evidence gap maps provide a visual illustration of areas of research. They show where there is plenty or little/no existing research on a topic. The policing interventions evidence gap map (EGM) focuses on:
randomised controlled trials
systematic reviews of policing interventions
It uses data from the global policing database. Studies included in the EGM were published between 2006 and 2021.
The global policing database
The global policing database (GPD) is an online resource of published and unpublished research on policing interventions. It covers research where police are directly involved in interventions. It captures a range of outcomes, extending beyond traditional crime and disorder metrics. This includes areas such as:
public trust in police
fear of crime
officer wellbeing
organisational efficiency
use of force
complaints
Developing the policing EGM
You can find out about how the EGM was developed in the technical brief.
The map contains 943 studies. It is important to note that studies can appear in more than one cell on the map if they involve multiple outcomes or interventions. The map is a living document and is updated periodically to ensure it remains relevant and up to date.
Using the EGM
The EGM includes both broad and specific outcome and intervention categories. The default setting of the EGM shows the broad categories. To access the specific categories, you can click on the drop-down options.
To find the list of studies linked to a particular cell, click on the cell and it provides you with an overview of the relevant records.
By selecting ‘filters’ you can select or deselect a range of filters. This allows you to produce maps that display subsets of the available research. It is also possible to search for specific words or phrases by clicking on the “view record” button at the top of the screen and typing the word or phrase into the box on the far right of the screen marked “filter”. The full user guide is available in the user guidelines.
Interpreting the EGM
It’s important to remember that the map only includes randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews. Where there are gaps in the map, there may be other research that does not meet these criteria. For example, there may be qualitative or quasi-experimental research in these areas.
It’s also important to note that there may be research relevant to crime reduction outcomes where the police are not directly involved. This could include, for example, studies about preventing reoffending that are undertaken in prison settings. These studies would also not be captured within the map.
- Go to the policing interventions evidence gap map