ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the process of determining an appropriate response to a presenting problem of crime or disorder.1 It begins with a discussion of some of the concepts to which reference is made in later sections. Some of these concepts are discussed more fully in other parts of this volume but are briefly considered here in the interests of making the present chapter a ‘standalone’ contribution. They are regarded as necessary to the development of the response element of the scanning, analysis, response and assessment (SARA) process. Although this process is frequently described as iterative rather than linear, this is often overlooked in practice. Examples are given to illustrate the response development process, but also to bring out its iterative nature and to illustrate the need for a strategic approach, which in some cases may span local, regional and national levels.
