Koper Curve and SmartForce

Brian Mc Grew
VP of Education

crimeSceneThe Koper Curve theory of policing is gaining traction in a number of police departments. Yet for many agencies, having the right data and analysis available to implement the Koper Curve method is daunting. Poor record-keeping and a lack of usable data can hinder policing efforts to reduce crime incidents with this policing strategy.

Fortunately, there are platform solutions to help police departments more efficiently connect people and data to help prevent and reduce crime in problematic areas.

Koper Curve Explained

The Koper Curve is named for Christopher S. Koper, an associate professor at George Mason University and Senior Fellow at the university’s Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy. The premise is based on the notion that most crime incidents occur in a small percentage of areas in a particular jurisdiction. Some studies indicate that as much as 50 percent of crime occurs in less than 5 percent of blocks or street segments.

By focusing on these hot spots, Koper’s research found, crime rates can be reduced substantially. Instead of stationing officers in one place or telling patrol officers to patrol hot spots is costly and ineffective. Instead, the theory recommends proactive, random and intermittent patrols of these hot spots for 10-16 minutes at least every two hours. Koper’s research showed that the likelihood of criminal activity within 30 minutes of a patrol drive-by was 15 percent. When random police stops lasting 10-16 minutes were incorporated, the likelihood of criminal activity dropped to 4 percent.

The key is intermittent, unscheduled patrols of a meaningful duration rather than regularly scheduled drop-ins.

From a resource perspective the Koper Curve principle has other advantages. For one it makes better use of patrol officers’ time. Secondly, it builds trust and credibility within the nearby community through increased presence and visibility.

Data challenges

Departments seeking to operationalize the Koper Curve principles in their patrols are to be commended. It is a powerful example of evidence-based police work.

However, many agencies face constraints in implementing the Koper Curve due to a lack of processes and systems to collect, track, and analyze the pertinent data. Without data that can easily be entered, stored, accessed and acted upon, there is little accountability for hot-spot policing and it is difficult to manage or measure results. While some department personnel may have educated guesses or hunches as to where those hot spots are or the results from hot-spot policing, a clear examination of the data is required to make a clear determination.

SmartForce™ from Adventos is a powerful solution. SmartForce™ is a first-of-its-kind agency management system software platform that lets law enforcement agencies connect internally and to their communities. Agencies using SmartForce™ are more efficient, better organized and have more functionality for collaborating on intelligence needs, connecting with the public, and keeping officers informed and safe.

SmartForce™ has a module specifically designed to let officers input their patrol activities during un-committed time in one location. Categorized data, easy retrieval, and clear reporting lets analysts and supervisors access the information both in real time and after the fact. By aggregating directed patrol information, offender checks and citizen contacts, departments can prevent or reduce crime in particular jurisdictional areas.

For departments eager to use the Koper Curve model to make their communities safer, SmartForce™ from Adventos is the right choice.

For more information about the SmartForce™ Agency Management System and how it improves hot-spot policing, community-policing, and intelligence collaboration, click here to watch the SmartForce demo. After watching the demonstration video, interested law enforcement officials are invited to request a free trial of the agency management. Click here to view the video and request a free trial today.

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