Which statement best defines evidence-based policing?

• A. It relies solely on anecdotal experience
• B. It uses policies and strategies informed by rigorous scientific evidence
• C. It emphasizes community tips over data
• D. It focuses only on reducing budgets

Answer: (B)

Evidence-based policing means using rigorous scientific evidence to guide policing decisions. It involves selecting policies and strategies that have been tested and shown to work, evaluating their outcomes with data, and adjusting practices based on what the evidence shows. In practice, this includes piloting interventions and applying research methods to determine whether they actually reduce crime or improve safety before scaling up. It does not rely on anecdotes, community tips without data, or an exclusive focus on budget cuts.