Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/339483 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IFS Working Papers No. 25/11
Publisher: 
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), London
Abstract: 
Leveraging unprecedented austerity cuts, this paper studies how a large-scale reorganization of police resources induced by the closure of over 70% of police stations - while keeping force-wide police strength constant - affects crime, po- lice effectiveness, civilian cooperation, and residents' welfare. Combining geo-referenced police records and victimization survey data, I find that reduced proximity to stations persistently increases violent crime and reduces police effectiveness. A spatial model of crime and policing highlights heterogeneous shifts in criminal activity. Concurrently, I document reduced reporting of non-violent offenses, diminished trust in policing, and lower local house prices. A counterfactual exercise indicates alternative closure policies could have mitigated these adverse consequences.
Subjects: 
Austerity
Crime
Police production function
Reporting
JEL: 
D29
K42
R53
H72
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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