Can closing a troubled business—and by that I mean a business where police are routinely called to deal with crime-related issues—significantly reduce crime in a neighborhood? This Missouri police department thinks so.

Those So Called "Troubled" Businesses

Most towns have them. Maybe it's an older motel that's seen better days. Or a bar or club that has that reputation. It could be a fast food joint or a gas station. You can see examples if you've ever watched the show "On Patrol: Live" and followed some of the departments.

Sometimes, the type of business might contribute to the crime problem, but the business or the management may not be the problem; instead, the clientele it attracts or whatever the business is selling might attract or aggravate the situation.

One thing is certain: cities notice repeated calls to 911 for police, fire, or EMS over time. If they see it draining public resources or creating a nuisance for the neighbors, they'll usually start eyeing a business and looking for violations to close it or pull its license.

After Closing A Troubled  Business, The City of Independence Says Crime In The Area Dropped 35%

On their Facebook page, the Independence Police Department and the City of Independence, Mo Government say they saw a 35% reduction in crime over three months at Interstate 70 and Noland Road after the City of Independence's Community Development Department revoked the business license of one hotel in the area.

The most notable decreases in crime were in weapon law violations, larcenies, burglaries, drug offences, and motor vehicle thefts.

Communities Do Need To Be Careful Implementing This Tactic

Cities and towns should exercise caution when implementing this tactic to reduce crime in a specific area. And business owners and managers should be allowed to be part of the solution by working with their local towns to reduce crime in and around their businesses.

Of course, most towns and cities have ordinances and statutes that city officials must follow to revoke a business license or close a place. A ChatGPT inquiry found that businesses must have significant violations or failures to comply in order to be shut down. Some of these reasons include nonpayment of taxes, violations of local laws or zoning, criminal activity or public nuisance issues, health and safety code violations, and complaints from the public.

The business closure at Interstate 70 and Noland Road in Independence seems to be working.