6th International Conference on Evidence-Based Policing Tuesday 9 th July 2013

1. A Homicide Hot Spots Patrol Test in Trinidad and Tobago Commissioner of Police (Ag) Stephen Williams Trinidad & Tobago 6th International Conference on Evidence-Based Policing Tuesday 9th July 2013

3. Background • A sharp increase in the number of homicide cases in T&T during the last decade • Over 60% attributed to gang-related activity • Yet even within high-crime areas, violence in T&T tends to be concentrated in smaller, micro-level crime places – a strong justification for hotspot policing • Cambridge University <> TTPS partnership

4. Spatial and Temporal Concentrations of Homicides in T&Tn=1,6621 Jan 2009 – 21 Jan 2013

9. Spatial Concentrations – Port of Spain as a case study

14. Aerial view of the hotspot with the highest homicide rate (n=138 in 4 years)

16. The Trinidad and Tobago Homicide Hotspots Experiment

17. Targets and Aims • Reduce Serious Crime by 50% compared to control conditions • Use all 3 “Triple Ts” of Evidence Based Policing • Targeting the power few • Testing the Intervention through rigorous science and • Tracking with GPS tracking and effective management (station-level Compstat)

18. Selection of Targets • All Police Station Districts that have eligible hotspots within their geographic boundaries • Top percentile that is responsible for most of crime and disorder in Trinidad and Tobago • Excluding Laventille • Focus heavily on violent crimes (shootings, woundingsand homicides) and overall crime harm index • Focus indirectly on all other serious street crimes • Increase legitimacy of T&T Police through effective but fair procedures

19. Proposed Program • Station-Level Compstat Every 14 days --hearts and minds, targeting predicted crime • Hot Spot Patrols Hot Times—primarily in vehicles • Patrol Tracking Maps for Compstat Discussion • Searches for Guns • Roadblocks Stop & Search

20. Process of Random Assignment • Rank-Order all T&T Stations according to resources available (n of vehicles, manpower, etc.) and n of serious incidents in 12 months (shootings, homicides, woundings) • Exclude BessonStreet Police Station--all treatment * • Exclude stations with fewer than 5 incidents in 12 months • Random assignment of stations across districts creating 24 pairs ______ * Extreme outlier with 188 incidents; next in rank is Morvant Police Station with 49 incidents

21. Grade A

22. Tracking Patrols

23. GPS Tracking • AVL GPS-based trackers • Hand held GPS trackers • Crucial: It will help us measure the link between police presence and crime • As crucial: Officers’ safety!

27. Test driving the system:

28. Bi-Weekly Station-Level Compstat • Common practice in T&T at Division level, but not yet at station level • Ongoing feed of data from CAPA • Winning the hearts and minds of officers with: • Positive and negative reinforcements • Quick response to issues: Discussing challenges and obstacles at the tactical level • Accountability: ownership of problems at hotspots by designated officers

29. Outcomes • N of all crimes • N of homicides • Tankebe’s legitimacy surveys • Crime harm index

31. Cameras? • ….

32. A Homicide Hot Spots Patrol Test in Trinidad and TobagoCommissioner of Police (Ag) Stephen Williams Trinidad & Tobago 6th International Conference on Evidence-Based Policing