Crime Policy in an Era of Austerity

In this paper I review recent empirical work analysing the determinants of crime. Improved detection rates consistently lower crime while the relation between prison sentences and crime is more complex. Short sentences are found to be counterproductive. Socio-economic factors play an important role but their sign and significance varies across crime types. Given the police funding cuts, the paper suggests that there is a need for rigorous efficiency studies so that less efficient forces can learn from the practices of more efficient forces.