Productivity in teams: double crewing for police

Tom Kirchmaier, Stephen Machin, Matteo Sandi and Robert Witt

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: Whether working in a team or alone results in higher productivity has been extensively studied in many settings, often being a controversial issue. This is none more so than for the police. Whether single or double crewing enhances or diminishes police productivity remains a perennial, contentious debate, yet credible empirical evidence is scarce. This paper provides new, quasi-experimental evidence on the causal impact of crew size on officer performance. Rich administrative data show that a policy shift (known as the 'Banded Shift Pattern') increased double crewing by altering vehicle-to-officer allocation in response teams. Double crewing significantly enhances police performance through two primary mechanisms: it improves officer productivity and reduces officer injury risks by enhancing situational safety. A cost-benefit analysis demonstrates that the performance gains of double crewing outweigh its increased operational expenses, proving it can be an effective strategy for modern policing.

Keywords: police; double crewing; productivity; safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J45 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 58 pages
Date: 2026-09
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