Assessing police forces in England and Wales using data envelopment analysis

This paper reports on an assessment of police forces in England and Wales using Data Envelopment Analysis. The assessment contributed to a study of crime management carried out in 1993 by the Audit Commission, an independent body, set up by Act of Parliament to encourage the economic, effective and efficient provision of public services. The paper begins with a preliminary analysis of crime, crime clear up and manpower data to lead on to an initial assessment of performance. The assessment is then refined so that not only more confidence is gained in the results obtained but also performance on specific areas such as manning levels as distinct from crime clear ups is gained. The analysis reported helped the Audit Commission in their selection of good forces. Although the main focus of the paper is on the use of DEA in the policing context much of the approach used has wider application and the paper should prove of interest not only to those concerned with police performance but also to those using DEA more generally, in other contexts.