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Essay / Effectiveness and Efficiency Essay - 974
A study was carried out in England and Wales into the police's use of crime data as an indicator of effectiveness. (Loveday, 2000) conducted a study that categorized certain offenses. Primary offenses included police activities such as an arrest. Secondary offenses would include police questioning a detained or prisoner. Police inspectors often expressed concern that offenses were being misclassified to show greater efficiency than was realistic. explains in the article how these classification errors are combated. Police forces are now judged on performance criteria, which helps reduce crime. To encourage such performance, all law enforcement agencies are offered specific crime reduction strategies. (Young, 1991) discussed performance management in law enforcement. Young noted that police departments have different ways to handle solving crimes. Since the 1990s, police services have had a mandate to record crime and mine clearance. To encourage such reporting, officers must identify “delinquency” through “primary” and “secondary” means. The main cases referred to matters which required substantial investigative work by the police. Secondary clearances were obtained through prison visits. Annual reports are required to show how crime has been