PROTOCOL: Displacement of Crime and Diffusion of Crime Control Benefits in Large‐Scale Geographic Areas

Abstract

The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize the extant empirical evidence (published and unpublished) on crime displacement and diffusion of crime prevention benefits across large geographic units as a result of formal social control interventions. Specifically, this review will seek to answer the following questions: 1. To what extent do formal social control interventions or legislative changes targeted at ‘macro places’ (e.g. police beats, police districts, cities, jurisdictions, states and countries) lead to spatial displacement of crime/disorder or diffusion of crime/disorder prevention benefits? 2. Do displacement/diffusion effects vary for different types of interventions and different types of crime or disorder? 3. Do displacement/diffusion effects vary based on the geographic unit of analysis?