The Diffusion Effect: A Partnership Approach to the Reduction of Road Trauma in Rodney

Intelligence led policing has proven to be an effective tool to tackle the high level of fatalities within the Waitemat? Police District. An in-depth analysis of historic crash data to identify associated crash trends resulted in a three phase operation within the Rodney Area based on a “diffusion of benefits” model. A collaborative multi-agency operation was run to increase the perceived risk of detection and apprehension in order to modify driver behaviour over a sustained period. There was an 86% reduction in fatal injury crashes and marked decrease in serious injury crashes over the Operation period in 2006. This has run consecutively since 2006 over historic bi-annual spikes, resulting in similar reductions highlighting the effectiveness of policing to risk and the benefits derived from a united multi-agency approach to problem solving.