Which approach ties policing to maintaining order by aggressively addressing minor offenses?

• A. Broken windows policing
• B. Zero-tolerance policy
• C. Hot spots policing
• D. Spatial diffusion of crime control benefits

Answer: (A)

The idea here is that maintaining public order depends on policing the small signs of disorder and petty offenses so they don’t escalate. Broken windows policing argues that visible disorder—like graffiti, loitering, or minor crimes—signals that rule-breaking will be tolerated, which invites more serious crime. By proactively and visibly addressing these minor offenses, police aim to deter larger problems and keep neighborhoods orderly. This differs from a zero-tolerance approach, which enforces punishment for almost every offense regardless of context; the focus there is broader and more punitive rather than on upholding order through the routine policing of minor transgressions. It also isn’t about focusing policing on crime hotspots, which is hot spots policing, or about how policing effects spread across areas, which is the idea of spatial diffusion of crime control benefits.