An evaluation in the choice of inputs and outputs in the efficiency measurement of police forces

Abstract The new Labour government has recently instigated an initiative to establish whether English and Welsh police forces should be ranked into groups based on an efficiency measure. A particular problem, however, is that policing includes many inputs and outputs (outcomes) that could potentially be utilised in efficiency models. This paper considers the problems associated with measuring relative police force efficiency given that a vast number of potential indicators (inputs and outputs) must be reduced to a handful to allow feasible estimation. In addition, it discusses the input and output variables utilised in the first ‘official’ analysis of English and Welsh police force efficiency [Demonstration Project, Home Office, London, UK, 2001].

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