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Strategies Introduction section

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Here are some suggestions for information that you could include under the heading 'Introduction' in your strategy document:

Use the Introduction to:

• make people aware of your partnership mission statement or vision 
  

• describe the purpose of the strategy and how it is linked to the audit process
  

• describe any relevant partnership structures
  

• describe links to the plans of other partnerships in your area
  

• give a brief overview of the strategy's structure 

You should also consider:

• the needs of the audience for the document 
  

• including acknowledgements 
  

• including a contents list 
  

• providing contact details 

 

Partnership mission statement or vision

You should include:

• your partnership's "mission statement" or "vision".  This is a simple statement that describes the overall aim of the partnership.

It is good practice for partnerships to have a mission statement and, if you've got one, you should make sure that people are aware of it.  You should also include the outcome for the National Drug Strategy and the outcomes for the four aims of the strategy. 

Example mission statement:
To work with individuals and communities to build a safe, just and tolerant society

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Purpose of the strategy and how it is linked to the audit process

You should include:

• a description of the obligations under Section 5 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, as amended by Sections 97 and 98 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
  

• that you are required to develop a 3-year strategy 
  

• that you are required to include a strategy for tackling anti-social behaviour
  

• that the strategy must take account of the findings of the audit and the views of the local community
  

• that the strategy will set the priorities, aims and objectives against which success will be judged.  In the case of the drug strategy, this should be the key performance indicators and any additional local priorities
  

• that partnership work on crime and drugs is combined in a single strategy
  

• how the partnership's strategy will make the best use of resources

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Partnership structures

You should include:

• an outline of the structures, processes and responsibilities for delivering the strategy
  

• an explanation of how you will be accountable to and take feedback from communities (including hard to reach groups) for the priorities and actions identified in the strategy
  

• relevant structural diagrams

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Links to other relevant partnership plans

You should include:

• details of the links between your strategy and the plans and targets of your partners

Example:
In some areas, CDRPs operate as a sub-group of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the strategy will therefore be a sub-set of the community plan, linked with the youth justice plan.  There are also a number of plans/strategies that drugs should link to as the drugs strategy is cross departmental.  

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Overview of the strategy's structure 

You should include:

• a brief explanation of how your strategy documents are laid out
  

• an explanation of any specific headings or layouts that have been used in each section 

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Needs of the audience for the document

You should also consider:

• a well presented strategy document will help communication
  

• what you are trying to achieve by reporting to different audiences because  it will help you to structure and disseminate your audit and strategy effectively
  

• whether any parts of the report should not be included in the published version, for example, to avoid individuals being identified

Think about the most appropriate way to present your report to different audiences, for example:

• Publish summary reports for the public
  

• Produce full reports for partner agencies and the Government Office
  

• Deliver presentations at public meetings or for elected members
  

• Make reports available on websites
  

• Publish reports in languages other than English, where this is relevant to the local population
  

• Publish reports in large print and make them available to blind or partially sighted people or those with learning difficulties
  

• Make reports available in a variety of places especially locations where hard to reach groups visit or contact
  

• When you use pictures, include a wide range of people but do not stereotype
  

• Use plain English. Don't use technical language and jargon in the published document so that it is easily understood by everyone

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Acknowledgements

You should also consider:

• including acknowledgements in a separate section before the introduction.  Acknowledgements enable you to refer to additional partners who contributed to the production of the strategy

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Contents list

You should also consider:

• including a contents list to outline the main points or chapters. This is particularly helpful in large documents. 

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Contact details

You should also consider:

• providing contact details  

All published documents should include appropriate contact details so that people can get further information.  Where appropriate, contact details for all key agencies in the CDRP can be included - you should at least include contact details for the Community Safety Co-ordinator or equivalent.  

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Last update: 10/03/04