What Works: Crime Reduction Toolkit
Evidence-rated crime-reduction interventions from the College of Policing What Works Centre, summarised.
The College of Policing's Crime Reduction Toolkit rates policing and crime-reduction interventions using the EMMIE framework — Effect, Mechanism, Moderators, Implementation and Economic cost. We summarise 72 interventions below; each links to the full toolkit entry. Last refreshed: 2026-07-15.
Accident and emergency navigators
Effect: some reduction
After-school programmes
Effect: mixed evidence
Aftercare programmes and intensive supervision probation for young offenders
Effect: no effect
Alcohol pricing
Effect: reduces crime
Alley gating
Effect: reduces crime
Alternative education programmes
Effect: mixed evidence
Boot camps
Effect: mixed evidence
Brief interventions for alcohol use disorders within criminal justice settings
Effect: some reduction
Circles of support and accountability for sex offenders
Effect: some reduction
Closed-circuit television (CCTV)
Effect: reduces crime
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for domestic violence
Effect: some reduction
Compulsory community treatment
Effect: no effect
Crime prevention through environmental design
Effect: mixed evidence
Crime Reduction Toolkit
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit - EMMIE Evidence Ratings
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit - Intervention Page
Effect: mixed evidence
Crime Reduction Toolkit Intervention
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit Intervention Page
Effect: mixed evidence
Crime Reduction Toolkit Intervention Page
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit Intervention Page
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit Intervention Page
Effect: reduces crime
Crime Reduction Toolkit Interventions
Effect: mixed evidence
Crisis intervention teams (CITs)
Effect: mixed evidence
Day Reporting Centres
Effect: mixed evidence
Dog training programmes in prison
Effect: reduces crime
Drink-drive stops
Effect: reduces crime
Drink-driving courts
Effect: some reduction
Drink-driving media campaigns
Effect: some reduction
Drink-driving school-based programmes
Effect: some reduction
Drug Courts
Effect: reduces crime
Education in prisons
Effect: reduces crime
Educational interventions to prevent relationship violence
Effect: some reduction
Electronic monitoring of offenders
Effect: mixed evidence
Electronic tagging for sex offences
Effect: reduces crime
Focused Deterrence Strategies
Effect: reduces crime
Health visitors
Effect: reduces crime
Healthcare screening for domestic abuse
Effect: reduces crime
Imprisonment and other custodial sanctions
Effect: increases crime
Increased police patrols to reduce drink-driving
Effect: some reduction
Increasing police patrols over large areas
Effect: reduces crime
Limiting alcohol sales
Effect: mixed evidence
Measures to reduce repeat victimisation – burglary
Effect: reduces crime
Mentoring
Effect: mixed evidence
Minimum legal drinking age laws
Effect: mixed evidence
Moral reconation therapy (MRT)
Effect: reduces crime
Motivational interviewing for domestic abusers
Effect: reduces crime
Multisystemic therapy
Effect: some reduction
Music making
Effect: no effect
Police-initiated diversion for adults
Effect: mixed evidence
Police-initiated diversion for young people
Effect: reduces crime
Probation officer training
Effect: reduces crime
Problem-oriented policing
Effect: reduces crime
Psychological treatment of adults convicted of sex offences against children
Effect: mixed evidence
Red light cameras
Effect: reduces crime
Restorative justice conferencing
Effect: reduces crime
Retail tagging to prevent shop theft
Effect: mixed evidence
Scared Straight programmes
Effect: increases crime
Security standards for the built environment (Secured by Design)
Effect: reduces crime
Sports programmes designed to prevent crime and reduce reoffending
Effect: reduces crime
Therapeutic communities
Effect: mixed evidence
Therapeutic foster care
Effect: reduces crime
Trying youths as adults
Effect: mixed evidence
Violence and Injury Observatories
Effect: reduces crime
Wilderness challenge programmes
Effect: reduces crime
Youth curfews
Effect: mixed evidence
Zero-tolerance policing
Effect: mixed evidence
Source: College of Policing Crime Reduction Toolkit. Summaries only; BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the College of Policing.