Operation safer hotels: An ‘Inn-Telligence’ gathering strategy at Perth hotels

Mr Jesse Parmar1

1WA Police Force, Perth, Australia

Abstract

Objectives. To test the effect of police engagement strategies in increasing both the quantity and quality of intelligence reports from the hotel community in the Perth metropolitan area.

Methods. The study employed a randomised experimental design in which 126 hotels were matched into triplets based on size, CAD demand (calls for service) and quality (based on online reviews). Hotels within each triplet were then randomly allocated to one of three groups: a control group, Treatment Group 1 or Treatment Group 2. The control group received business as usual policing. Treatment Group 1 received personal engagement from a police officer, using a procedurally-just checklist. This group were provided with: literature on drug related behaviour, a dedicated ‘Operation Safer Hotels’ phone number and a monthly email outlining positive interaction and outcomes of reporting. Treatment Group 2 received a letter outlining the Operation and the literature on drug related behaviour. Key outcome measures included intelligence reports, recorded offences, crime harm (as measured by the WA-CHI) and quantity of drugs seized.

Results. Compared to the control group, Treatment Group 1 provided: three times as many intelligence reports; nearly three times as many drug related intelligence reports; four times the number of offenders identified from a 39% increase in reporting; and had a greater quantity of drugs seized from those offenders.

Conclusions. The findings suggest that face-to-face, procedurally just engagement that includes feedback and regular contact with members of the hotel community has a positive impact on uncovering hidden offending; specifically drug related offending taking place on hotel premises.


Biography:

Jesse Parmar is an analyst within the WA Police Force’s Office of Applied Criminology (OAC). Jesse hold a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Western Australia where he wrote a dissertation on educational economics.

In his time at the Office of Applied Criminology, Jesse has had the opportunity to work on a range of experiments- with a particular focus of hot spot policing evaluations and proactive police engagement with the community.