Problem solving is a systematic process for preventing persistent problems. As a concept it was Herman Goldstein who, in the late 1970s, proposed a plan for improving policing that called on the police to focus less on their response to individual incidents and more on their ability to resolve persistent problems that affect the community. Goldstein called the approach ‘problem-oriented policing’ (POP). In many areas of the world it is often referred to simply as ‘problem solving’.
Problem solving is not standard policing. Nor is it a manual for solving problems. Problem solving is a method. It involves the analysis of data to identify and understand repeat sources of demand and then to work in a people-centric way on the response and solutions. It is about working creatively and often collaboratively with others -including partner agencies and the community – to devise tailored responses to local problems. And it carries a commitment to put prevention first, minimising the need for arrest and enforcement (though recognising these are effective and important tools when used appropriately and wisely) in favour of alternative, effective and sustainable solutions.
Problem-solving can be applied to an incredibly wide range of issues. From burglary to robbery, from homicide to anti-social behaviour, to criminal groups and gangs, and to safeguarding the vulnerable. Extensive evidence finds problem solving to be highly effective at tackling the wide range of crime and public safety issues that police and other agencies need to deal with.
This three-part series provides insights into the world of problem solving, from leading experts in this global field:
In the second video, Emeritus Professor Gloria Laycock, one of the UKs foremost authorities on problem-solving, talks about the publication of her new book: ‘Crime, Science and Policing’.
Without shying away from the challenges and barriers, Professor Laycock draws analogies with engineering and medicine to illustrate her observations on the ‘how’ of problem-solving in a police environment and talks to a range of topical issues. With a series of highly practical observations around what good looks like in a police agency that has bought into problem-solving, the need to work with, and draw on, the professional experience of policing practitioners, and an appeal to lift public awareness around understanding the causes of crime, Professor Laycock offers a range of compelling insights into the opportunities provided by partnerships and the role ‘science’. Professor Laycock concludes by highlighting the value of the annual Tilly Awards, which recognise excellence in the application of police led and enabled problem-solving across the UK.