Optimising the length of random breath tests: Results from the Queensland Community Engagement Trial
File version
Author(s)
Bates, Lyndel
Bennett, Sarah
White, Gentry
Ferris, Jason
Antrobus, Emma
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
Research suggests that the length and quality of police-citizen encounters affect policing outcomes. The Koper Curve, for example, shows that the optimal length for police presence in hot spots is between 14 and 15 minutes, with diminishing returns observed thereafter. Our study, using data from the Queensland Community Engagement Trial (QCET), examines the impact of encounter length on citizen perceptions of police performance. QCET involved a randomised field trial, where 60 random breath test (RBT) traffic stop operations were randomly allocated to an experimental condition involving a procedurally just encounter or a business-as-usual control condition. Our results show that the optimal length of time for procedurally just encounters during RBT traffic stops is just less than 2 minutes. We show, therefore, that it is important to encourage and facilitate positive police-citizen encounters during RBT at traffic stops, while ensuring that the length of these interactions does not pass a point of diminishing returns.
Journal Title
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
48
Issue
2
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Criminology
Police administration, procedures and practice