Analysis of Policing Efficiency in Integrated Security Areas in Pernambuco: A DEA Approach with Panel Data

This study analyzes the operational efficiency of Integrated Security Areas (AIS) in Pernambuco, Brazil, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with monthly data from 2018 to 2021. Inputs such as the number of agents, commissioners, delegates, and clerks were considered, as well as products such as criminal activities, exclusions of illegality, femicides, other motivations, property crimes (robbery), and interpersonal violence. Using a DEA model under the assumption of free disposal hull (FDH), we measured the efficiency of each AIS. The results show variations in efficiency over the four years, highlighting the months of full efficiency. Descriptive analyses and statistical tests validated the convexity and scale returns of the data. A comparison between 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 revealed changes in operational performance. The study highlights the impact of strategies and resource allocation over time, providing valuable information to improve public security management in Pernambuco.