THE SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE - EVIDENCE FROM ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

In 1996 Strathclyde Police launched a campaign in order to reduce crim e, especially violent crime in the region. Surgical data have been pre viously suggested as a more accurate reflection of violent activity th an police statistics. Whilst police figures record success in reducing serious violent crime during this initiative, there was a slight incr ease in facial fractures resulting from assault in public places in th e same period although this increase was not significant at the p< 0.0 5 level.