Interventions to reduce crime result in undesigned outcomes and it is important to understand what they are in order to get value for money. Crime reduction is a principal feature of the New Deal for Communities and this report from Communities and Local Government examines how crime is displaced as criminals go for the softer option outside the area of intervention and how benefits can spill out to surrounding areas.

The research examined the wider impact of interventions on crimes involving violence, burglary, theft and criminal damage. Just 2 per cent of surrounding areas experienced displacement of crime, but 23 per cent benefitted from the interventions. Within these areas the level of displaced crime was 5 per cent, with diffused benefit ranging from 21 to 25 per cent.

The report is available from DCLG. http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/737988.pdf