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Problem‐oriented policing has been widely implemented during recent years, but researchers have conducted few controlled evaluations to assess its effectiveness. This paper presents a quasi‐experiment designed to test the effects of one such programme. Interviews with Santa Ana residents before and after the introduction of problem‐oriented policing in the city’s developmental district suggest that the archetype can lessen citizens’ complaints about their neighbourhoods.

Change is a feature of the liberal democracies. Despite its ubiquitous nature, however, one key factor in these democracies, the police, has been noted for its conservatism. This bastion of traditionalism, this upholder of the law of the land, has changed little in structure or purpose over the first half of this century but it has not been the case during the latter half. Change now appears to be manifesting itself in new organisational structures and forms; modifications to role and focus; and, in accommodating revised views on the need for agencies whose composition reflects gender equity and minority representation, as authorities struggle to satisfy the array of demands on contemporary police services. This paper speculates as to what may have prompted change to the police, examines what it considers to be some of the main areas of change, and then postulates the consequences for police and policing.

Entertainment is now the largest trend in retailing and urban redevelopment, and is credited with revitalizing many downtowns. Consequently, many other cities are attempting to replicate this success by developing pedestrian‐oriented entertainment districts consisting of movie theaters, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and retail shopping. This paper summarizes the results of 30 police‐manager interviews and a nationwide survey used to identify entertainment‐district features that create problems and demands for police resources, and effective strategies and tactics for policing entertainment districts. The most effective policing is done at the district planning and design stage by engineering out features that cause problems. Good entertainment‐district policing then requires continuous training and education of business managers and private security personnel. Finally, night‐time district patrol requires a multi‐prong effort to pre‐empt problems and assure public safety.