The implementation of local security policy: towards a theoretical framework
This article concerns the implementation of local security policy with a particular focus on the implementation of local security plans. Although the criminological literature, and particularly studies on
security policy, provide useful insights about the implementation process of local security policy, no cohesive list of influencing factors from which hypotheses can be derived exists. We try to address this by introducing a theoretical framework that consists of six clusters of factors that might influence the dependent variable ‘policy output’: (1) policy formation, (2) policy characteristics, (3) organisational factors, (4) characteristics of the implementers, (5) inter-organisational coordination and (6) contextual factors. The framework allows studying the implementation process more systematically focusing on those factors that are assumed to be relevant. The article also presents a discussion of evaluation criteria that can be used to assess the implementation process. It concludes with some suggestions for further research.