Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Moderator

Today’s chat about problem solving and what it means to you will start at midday today. Join us to put questions to the panel or simply share your views and experiences of problem solving.

Moderator

Hello and welcome to today’s chat about problem solving. The panel will introduce themselves and feel free to tell us who you are and your questions for the panel.

Paul Scott

hello i am a problem solver working in London

Stuart Kirby

I am a lecturer in criminology at lancaster university and teach this subject. Prior to that I was a Chief Superintendent who introduced POP to Lancashire and was successful in winning the Tilley award on two occassions.

Keith Taylor

Hi I am Keith Taylor, Merseyside Police. My current role is within the citizen focus unit and I am currently engaged with the neighbourhood policing model and problem solving.

Bob Dimmock

Good afternoon my name is Bob Dimmock and my role is that of Performance and Commissioning Manager for Dudley MBC. My links to problem solving in this role is that I chair a Joint Activities Group involving partners in crime reduction

Neil Henson

I am a Borough Problem Solving Advisor based at Wandsworth Borough in the Met Police. My role is to support Police and their partners to employ Problem Oriented Strategies, Problem Solving Processes and work in partnership with others.

Keith McGroary

I am a police Inspector based in the Force Community Safety Department at Hampshire PHQ. I have worked with CDRP’s and problem solving for the last 7 years, the last 5 of which has involved mainstreaming problem solving throughout Hampshire. I have jointly developed a web-facing problem solving IT system for police and partners.

Dan Clacher

I’m Dan Clacher and I’ve been a champion of Problem Solving ­in Partnerships and Policing for the last 15 years. I currently head the Police and Partnerships Standards Unit at the Home Office.

Moderator

Matthew Scribbins is also on the panel but is sharing my PC so his messages will appear as the moderator. Matthew works in the Priority Crimes Team at the Home Office.

RichardAntcliff

Afternoon, Richard Antcliff, Chief ASB Officer for Nottingham (Nottinghamshire Police ‘C’ Division. I deal with civil remedies.

spoc

Hello i am a temporary sergeant with the british transport police based on the Lewisham neighbourhood team.

JudithE

I work for British Transport Police and we will be implementing Neighbourhood Policing across the London Underground Area shortly.

hudsoni

hello I am Ian Hudson, a CDRP Analyst with 5 year’s experience and based in King’s Lynn, West Norfolk working for the Breckland and KL&WN CDRPs. I have an analytical career path stretching over 20 years - previous analytical experience has included in the banking industry and cable & telecoms.

Deirdre

sorry, I have typed a little slowly, to introduce myself - I am a police Inspector based in the Community Safety & Crime Reduction dept in Hertfordshire, my role is Force Alcohol Licensing Coordinator

Moderator

Don’t worry about slow typing - things don’t always come out in the right order - but we’ll post a transcript that tries to make it all group together.

Rallyboy

hello- I’m Tim Nunn, North Wales regional Adviser for the Home office crime team

2. How do you define problem solving and is it different to problem oriented working?

Moderator

A question to warm up the panel - how would you define problem solving and is it different to problem oriented working?

Paul Scott

rather than keep responding to the symptoms of the problem, use research and analysis to help you create a custom made response to deal with the actual problem.

Stuart Kirby

Some argue problem solving is about sustainable responses to reduce re-occurring operational community safety problems. Problem-orientation is about the whole organisation looking to reduce all sorts of problems (including internal ones).

Dan Clacher

To some extent it has to be about ‘demand’ management, i.e. breaking down recurring cycles of demand for community safety and policing services. Ask the question, ‘why do we keep coming back here?’

Neil Henson

Yes, it is different. Problem Orientation is how you approach the problems, in effect align your work, your partnership and your resources around the identified broader aims. While Problem Solving is the process you use on the individual problems that work against these aims.

Keith Taylor

I think it is important to ensure that there is an understanding that an organisation is oriented towards problem solving before the application of problem solving models, such as SARA, can be a success.

Bob Dimmock

Put simply I would define problem solving as evidence based crime prevention where evidence is gained and the outcome is crime reduction/prevention. problem orientated working is the relationship between parties to enable the problem to be solved.

stig

As I understand it, problem orientation means what it says - organising your business processes and working practices around existing problems. It means anticipating them, preventing them from occurring and reducing the impact they have on people’s lives. Problem solving is one of the tools you use to do that.

Keith McGroary

Problem solving is about getting to understand the route causes of a problem and treating both symptoms and causes of the problem in a structured way using the Scanning Analysis Response Assessment model. The difference between the 2 is generally reflected through methodology.

Dan Clacher

An essential part of ‘problem-solving’ in the community safety sense is the inter-agency involvement. Without key partners contributing to the process, individual stakeholders are limited in what they can achieve. This applies especially to ‘sustainable’ problem solving.

Rallyboy

The concept is very simple, however getting multi agency partnerships to understand this and make the vital links of this being led by current intelligence has been a challenge- Good example of this in North Wales now within Wrexham for instance

Moderator

Rallyboy can you tell us what is happening in Wrexham? Or does anyone else logged on want to tell us what they are doing locally to embed problem solving?

Rallyboy

We use the funding project.com as a SARA based tool which not only informs funding plans but activity thereafter for the year. The Joint action group , a multi-agency approach in very much informed via a partnership analyst and emerging priorities identified and solutions sought.... to name but a few activities.

Moderator

What would be one of your area’s biggest successes using this approach?

Rallyboy

The Joint action group (JAG) has been critical in producing a 36% reduction in recorded crime 05-08 against negotiated targets

Paul Scott

Rallyboy: Which groups sit on your JAG?

Rallyboy

very difficult at times to get the right people at the right table but hopefully the hallmarks will enable this to be developed

Stuart Kirby

Have you been able to separate the impact of specific problem solving projects against general day to day working? In essence have you an evaluation process in place?

RichardAntcliff

Stuart, we use quite a few perception surveys, Mori, JRA City Council, Police. We also have LAGs - Local Area Groups (under NP) and all of this is useful to compare with crime stats. We have weekly ‘Respect’, City Hotspot, and lots of local tasking groups.

Stuart Kirby

Recent survey results have linked perception of crime to which party voters will support come election time. The fear of crime issues are extremely complex but can be treated in the same way any operational problem is.

Stuart Kirby

Thanks for your earlier response do you look at the reduction of crime on individual problems i.e. evaluate individual initiatives?

RichardAntcliff

In short yes. With have a very large CDP that analyse and evaluate just about everything. However, we are not great at letting people know our successes. Nottingham is a challenging city and to reduce crime by 26-30% 05/08 is a credit to the way partners have engaged and the CDP have pulled this together.

Stuart Kirby

I agree with what you say but I have found that if you can’t put individual success to problem solving initiatives detractors don’t accept this as an area to invest in. Also it is difficult to market success without this evaluated good practice.

3. The challenge to mainstream problem solving into organisations

Neil Henson

Even though Problem Orientation Strategies and Problem Solving makes sense (biased of course), why does it fail to be mainstreamed into organisations.

RichardAntcliff

Partnership working is key and requires accountability and commitment. Here in Nottingham our ‘Respect Agenda’ and Neighbourhood Policing is excellent. Our tasking processes seem to work very well. 26% reduction in crime 05/08.

Rallyboy

Absolutely- the successes in North Wales have very much been down to this sense of collective ownership of dealing with Community Safety- still a long way to go but this approach has certainly contributed towards delivery.

Paul Scott

Neil - conflicting demands seem to be a huge challenge.

Matthew S

But surely problem solving reduces demands, not conflicts with them?

Bob Dimmock

To embed problem solving with partners it has to have key elements. In a Joint Activity Group it has to have people with enough authority to enabled actions to take place. Without this it is difficult. Secondly my experience is that when presenting evidence of a problem keep it simply to understand. Not everyone knows police speak so Tactical Assessment Documents can be a turn off.

Paul Scott

JAGs should fit the problem(s) rather than making the problems fit the JAG.

Dan Clacher

The most effective CDRPs and CSPs are those with robust performance management around a JAG process that holds partner agencies to account. Regular scrutiny in an open forum is essential for ensuring partners ‘step up to the plate’.

Paul Scott

Setting the agenda for the next meeting very early helps to get the right people to the JAG meeting.

stig

Culture is a big issue. The police culture is very results driven. And, let’s be honest, we have been working in a particular way for 100 years - it’s not going to change overnight. Partners have distinct cultures too (look at the two differing attitudes to timekeeping!). And it’s going to take time for these various cultures to find ways of working together.

Bob Dimmock

This is not the case everywhere. In my local authority we are currently working very hard at our National Indicators where we have formed groups to strengthen the links between true partnership working. Hopefully some of the project work that has worked will be identified for mainstreaming.

Keith Taylor

From my recent experience, Merseyside anti social behaviour task force, it is vital to secure active cooperation to deliver partnership aims. Having strategic ambition and good will is not enough, ’hands on’ participation is required

Moderator

I think problem solving can be seen as additional whereas if done correctly it saves everyone resources.

RichardAntcliff

Certainly a lot more around ‘Perception’ these days?

4. Most important change in shifting cultures towards problem oriented working?

Moderator

To the panel, several of whom have been involved in embedding problem solving as a force approach for some time - what has been the single most important change in getting staff to make this shift?

Dan Clacher

We have seen some remarkable performance turn-arounds following Partnership Support Programmes in what have been described as ‘challenging’ areas of the country. In most of the reports a key recommendation is ‘multi-agency problem solving training’. When this has been done the effect can be staggering!

Paul Scott

Senior management buy-in.

Bob Dimmock

Buy in from the top, evidence that it works and then marketing the results.

Stuart Kirby

In response to your question I have found the most effective way to sustain problem orientation is clear leadership coupled with an effective cross cutting plan which looks at such things as recruitment, selection, development, reward, information and intelligence processes, accountability and audit.

Dan Clacher

To really embed a PS culture in an organisation initially needs an individual champion with passion for the subject. For it to survive beyond the individual it has to deliver results on a consistent basis. Lancashire constabulary is probably the best example of this where key people (like Stuart Kirby) have left the organisation, but the problem solving culture continues......

Keith McGroary

Mainstreaming problem solving is very difficult; it involves changing cultures in terms of how we have always worked in the past. Key to change involves the overt support of a number of very senior managers; developing a well thought through implementation plan IN CONJUNCTION with relevant key Partner organisations; celebration of success and the development of a number of ‘experts’ to support others involved in projects.

stig

Embedding Problem Solving takes time and requires certain things to be in place. From experience (and looking at where problem solving is successful) it seems to come down to (1) Management buy-in (2) Local champions (3) Training (4) Meaningful partnerships (5) Everyone ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’ in terms of process and recording procedures.

Keith Taylor

Stig. I consider your view is a reasonable representation of collective experience, although I consider this is not just confined to the subject of problem solving.

Rallyboy

Marketing the results is a problem- those who are delivering within communities are often quote "too busy to market" but there is a real need for this given the lessons learnt in many areas.

Moderator

Rallyboy - by marketing do you mean getting results into local press or just internally?

Rallyboy

Both really. Sharing success internally is particularly important to keep all engaged where possible but as for dealing with fear of crime within the communities, I suspect more could also be done as a Mori Poll

Neil Henson

In my opinion it is the locally based Problem Solving Advisors who are crucial. When I worked centrally, those Boroughs that had good ones were way ahead of the others. Now that I am a local Borough Problem Solving Advisor, I am even more convinced. It is full time role to meet the requests for help. This ranges from the main crime types, Calls for service, Supporting the Safer Neighbourhood teams and assisting on the partnership working, such as the Joint agency group / Partnership Operational Group.

stig

Couldn’t agree more

Devon Dave

I agree with Stig above re the training issue for Problem solving. Until recently, training for Neighbourhood Officers was very poor compared to other ‘specialist’ Police Departments. This is now rectified in our area.

Stuart Kirby

I agree with Neil’s point. I am doing some work with a Police Force at the moment and they have delivered some great training but little has been done on the ground. They now see that their training has to develop to a more coaching / mentoring role to help with ongoing problems.

Keith McGroary

I totally agree. However, any training delivered will be enhanced through joint training, particularly if you can get the relevant persons within the same CDRP area in the same room.

Dan Clacher

It’s also important to note that keeping PS going is a bit like painting the Forth Bridge. At present the front line workforce in the police (generally) has an average length of service of 3 years. Many of them have never heard of PS, or Repeat Victimisation, Nick Tilley or even Ken Pease. Working in Community Safety now needs to move from being a craft to a profession and have a grounding in the basics of this and other academic aspects of criminal justice should be an essential requirement for practioners.

stig

Which is another reason why local champions are vital - they act as conduits of good practice, as moderators and advisors (and quality control) and can take on the mentoring mantle too

Moderator

I wonder how this is reflected by the panel - were you all trained in problem solving and are now advocates/champions or did you come across the approach because of individuals you worked with and acted as a mentor?

Bob Dimmock

The wrong business process’s and recording procedures are often a major problem in problem solving approaches. Differing data requirements for each organisation makes meaningful data collection and analysis difficult. Unfortunately many organisations fail to complete and end to end business process requirement before buying a piece of IT suitable for all partners. When it is commissioned it doesn’t do the job it was intended. Discover what your purpose is first before jumping to an IT solution.

stig

Which is another reason why local champions are vital - they act as conduits of good practice, as moderators and advisors (and quality control) and can take on the mentoring mantle too

keith mcgroary

I totally agree. However, any training delivered will be enhanced through joint training, particularly if you can get the relevant persons within the same CDRP area in the same room.

Devon Dave

Training is also of little use without local contacts and knowledge. Neighbourhood Team posts should be comparatively longer term as opposed to someone taking a post ‘to gain experience’

RichardAntcliff

In Nottingham we have Community Protection Officers working in the Police Stations assigned to each of the 60 City Beats. They have given us so much in terms of links between the City Council and Police on the ground level. It makes the tasking process even easier.

Keith Taylor

In Merseyside we have an established crime training faculty and are now developing a ‘neighbourhood ‘ training faculty. Problem solving is an integral component of the proposed training

stig

As a note to Problem solvers - they’ve solves the Forth Bridge issue by inventing a longer lasting paint!

Devon Dave

I am involved with local Problem Solving Training and we have had guests at our sessions and all have found the involvement of other agencies really useful

TK

With regards to problem solving training this is especially important now with regards to the linkage with Neighbourhood Policing and Neighbourhood Management Teams. The National Community Safety Network has developed training based upon the PAT and SARA models. It is based upon successful training already given to multi agency audiences in Cardiff, Stoke and other areas. The real benefit is in having different agencies working together using the same models.

stuart kirby

I agree. Let me pose a question to you. What do you think makes a good champion?

Neil Henson

Further on the point of mentoring. Though I am delivering multi agency Problem Solving training across my Borough, which is an efficient way of getting across the concepts to a large number of people, I am finding progress is being made with key individuals from the partnerships.

stig

Any training must involve a range of agencies.

paul scott

does anyone have knowledge of partnership led (not police led) problem solving initiatives?

Moderator

Last year the third prize winner of the Tilley Awards was submitted by a Partnership.

Moderator

It was from the Safer Hastings Partnership about reducing the fear of crime. You can read about last year’s Tilley winners here http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/tilley/tilleyawards2007.htm

Moderator

And don’t forget the 2008 Awards close just over 2 weeks - 25th April.

Bob Dimmock

Yes Paul, we identified a problem with alcohol fueled violence in an entertainment area Friday Sat nights. One of our initiatives was to put in Taxi Marshals to disperse the crowd in a quick and safe way. This is led by the LA.

keith mcgroary

In Hampshire we have several Partner initiated projects ranging from violent crime in the town centre to anti-social behaviour.

stuart kirby

London Transport won the goldstein award a couple of years ago and I think the last goldstein winner (intensive family support project) had great support from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Neil Henson

Safer Ayr, South Ayrshire Community safety Partnership, West Scotland. They had the problem of Town centre violence and it was led by the Partnership, and everyone played a part.

Bob Dimmock

We also have a lockfitters scheme called our Home Security Initiative that target hardens victims and vulnerable peoples addresses. Funded and operated by the LA

stig

What makes a good champion? Passion coupled with knowledge, excellent communication skills (how much training do we get in how to network or conduct effective meetings?) and great organisational skills. Inspirational.

paul scott

position of influence helps, too.

stuart kirby

They do make a big difference. I also think if you can persuade staff who are good operationally anyway, to do this task, they bring enhanced credibility.

Devon Dave

We are always looking at different methods of providing feedback re Neighbourhood Priorities and Problem Solving Work. The latest we are about to try is vidoecasts on to You tube then circulating the link via Community Messaging and posting it on Community websites. It will hopefully be more user friendly than reading a long e-mail or article. Has anyone else tried this and were there any problems?

keith mcgroary

A good champion must be one who is genuine about support rather than an ‘expectation’, a champion must understand the subject, must be able to talk with passion, authority and relate problem solving to other strategic objectives as PS does not sit on its own. A champion has to be prepared to fight in what s/he believes in and take others with them.

stig

Absolutely

TK

I agree. The pivotal issue re problem solving is to have operational reps from all local agencies in contact frequently. if they are all trained then the result is that potential problems are identified at an early stage and the appropriate actions put in place. These can often be achieved by normal day to day actions rather than requiring additional resources.

Bob Dimmock

I am interested in the Youtube approach anyone done this.

Dan Clacher

The most effective champions I have come across are those that can inspire people to ‘go the extra mile’ or give more than they otherwise would. They are also very adept at influencing key movers and shakers. Ultimately they are passionate individuals that are hard to resist!

Moderator

If someone is new to problem solving, and in line with what Dan said about lack of knowledge, where is a good place to point them to in the absence of training?

stuart kirby

Just one more point on the Champions issue - my experience is they get little reward for their extra effort and it is often nice to acknowledge their work through commendation (which brings with it a small financial reward).

paul scott

i seem to remember that an initiative in Tower Hamlets engaged youths to create a piece of animated film to put their message across. I would expect to find that on u tube.

Devon Dave

I’m doing our first videocast in about two weeks. We already have an account of Brixhampolice. We are hoping to feedback to hard to reach groups as well as users just ‘surfing’ in

Bob Dimmock

We are focussing on a burglary problem at the moment and an idea has been put forward to raise awareness of target hardening through a video on Youtube rather than the more traditional way of creating a DVD which I happen to think is ignored by most people.

paul scott

I find the Home Office crime reduction and COPS websites helpful when starting out.

Moderator

Bob, is this message targeted at members of the public, or colleagues?

keith mcgroary

I would point people in the direction of the 55 Steps to Becoming a Problem Solving Analyst by Eck and Clarke published by the Jill Dando Institute - it is not so much about becoming an analyst as being a great introduction to problem solving.

Devon Dave

Once the item is on You tube, it is useful because you can copy the link and forward it to whoever you wish. You can also embed to video on to any website

Keith Taylor

Devon Dave. The use of social networks is interesting and can be a double edged sword. A number of video casts can be found promoting anti social behaviour and crime with gangs promoting their activities through these sites

Neil Henson

When I started there was no training in my Force. I relied on books from other professions for my development in addition to the ones produced by the Home Office specifically on POP.

Moderator

Matthew S says Keith, isn’t that exactly why there needs to be some more positive stuff on there as well?

Devon Dave

I agree that there is unsuitable content on You tube, but perhaps that is more of an incentive for us to try and redress the balance?

Neil Henson

Further to the reading outside the world of POP, I took (and still do) good practice from business (Ranging from strategies, problem solving techniques to creativity and innovation).

stig

We can learn a lot from the world of business and retail - they’ve been problem solving for years because their profits depend on it

Moderator

Welcome to anyone who has joined us - it’s been a busy hour so far. Our expert panel are ready to answer more of your questions on problem solving. Make the most of having them all available!

Moderator

Matthew S: What does the panel think is the role of having accurate data to solve problems? Can anything be done without it?

keith mcgroary

If you have no training, another alternative would be to contact a Force that does have training and ‘borrow with pride’; adapt it and make it fit for purpose within your own organisation.

Bob Dimmock

I too, take good practice from the business world. In particular I take a lead from ‘lean systems thinking’ where emphasis is placed on doing more of the right thing rather than the waste and failed work that often weighs organisations down

paul scott

if you do not have accurate data, how do you know what the problem is?

keith mcgroary

One of the most frequent comments from people who are not into problem solving say that it is ‘bureaucratic’. Does anybody else experience that?

Moderator

Matthew S: I guess I’m thinking that as people try to tackle perceptions, for example, they may struggle to get hard data very often. Any tips on this?

stuart kirby

In terms of books on the subject I have recently left the police and one of the courses I now teach at University is situational crime prevention. I have been amazed at the range of publications out there. One of my favourites is a book published by Willan and edited by Nick Tilley called a handbook for crime prevention.

Keith Taylor

‘What gets measured gets done’ is frequently quoted as an antidote to problem solving. Have others experienced similar resistance?

TK

Re question where to point people. There is some very good information contained in the HO Crime Reduction website, Definitions etc re PAT SARA etc. The passport introduction is good. After that I would suggest one way would be NCSN

Bob Dimmock

Matthew. Accurate data is vital to inform what the problem is. I said earlier, often process’s are put into place by partners without any clear links of what data is going to support problem solving

Dan Clacher

Some of you may have heard of an American version of You Tube called Blue Tube which only has police relevant content on it. There is probably room for development of this approach to community safety issues through the crime reduction web-site............ Alex?

paul scott

Keith: Oh yes!!! I find this is very often offered up as a way of saying this is hard.

stuart kirby

In relation to the perception issue. I think there will be more demands to obtain this in the future. I do think we need a balance between ‘hard’ crime statistics and perception based ones. Many Forces use citizen panels to obtain views. Other initiatives have either used letter drops or house to house visits to obtain information.

Moderator

Currently the Crime reduction web site cannot support video streams hence we are currently linking with You Tube to share some of our recent DVDs such as the Night Time Economy DVD that the Police & Partnership Standards Unit produced (I’ll attach a link to the transcript).

Moderator

However in light of the big redevelopment of the web site to improve the look and feel of it for practitioners this is certainly something that we will be consulting users about and exploring the possibilities - watch this space!

Moderator

Further to public perceptions you can use local newspapers to provide an indication of public feeling e.g. in Hastings the press shifted from scare-monger stories to a more realistic reflection of the work being done.

Moderator

OK The Tilley Awards consistently highlight the problem organisations have in devoting sufficient time to evaluating initiatives - how can people address this?

Neil Henson

Do people think that there should be an Institute of Problem solvers, similar to other professions?

Moderator

Matthew S: Similar to perception data, no one agency will ever have an accurate picture of criminal damage as reporting rates are so low. Does this mean problem solving can’t be used? I don’t believe so...

paul scott

pressure to move on and deal with the next job is a huge barrier to evaluation. the importance of evaluation has to be recognised by organisations first.

keith mcgroary

No simple or easy answer - evaluation is key if we want to know what works, what doesn’t and why. The only suggestion I can make is that any evaluation must be proportionate to the problem...or the importance of the project.

stuart kirby

Previous academic research and surveys by IPSOS Mori have shown a correlation in terms of different media outlets and the feeling of safety within the readers. This is obviously affected by the demographics of the people reading a particular newspaper. In a nutshell it is important to try and get local media outlets to provide a balanced view.

Dan Clacher

Evaluation has had a bit of a bad press in recent years because of one or two stories, such as £10,000 cost to evaluate a £5,000 initiative. Whilst there needs to be some balance and proportionality we also need to get a firm grip on the reasons why some things work more effectively than others.

paul scott

Matthew - By using council figures around graffiti removal we were able to assess success in problem solving. Prostitute cards was later dealt with in a similar way

stuart kirby

My view is this is core work for all community safety professionals and as such should be wider than this. I think it poses a wider question in relation to ‘professionalism’ within this area.

Moderator

Also I think the issue of graffiti will be addressed if the local community raise this as a concern, even if initially reported data doesn’t back up this view.

Bob Dimmock

I cannot recollect the website but there is a website containing evaluation of previous projects. Many experts advocate putting in evaluation at the beginning by reference to past projects.

stuart kirby

As we all know evaluation doesn’t have to be expensive and needs to be proportionate to the initiative assessed. I do think though the biggest issue here is that it is often counter-culture and asks someone to be reflective in what is often an action based profession.

Moderator

This is something we are trying to address via the Crime Reduction Web site. We have recently launched the Effective Practice Database http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/cgi-bin/epd/index.cgi so that people can access evaluated crime reduction initiatives - although this is reliant on people adding their projects as well as seeking existing solutions.

Rallyboy

We are currently attempting to pull together examples of what works within the Welsh Assembly Govt Website- this does cite examples of success albeit getting these can sometimes be difficult

Neil Henson

Regarding the Institute, I was thinking it would be very broad, whether your role is to solve problems within Community Health, as well as Community Safety. I would also expect those employed in the military and business could also play a part. As all these are employing similar if not the same strategies and tactics.

stuart kirby

As Keith said earlier the 55 steps book sets out that a hypothesis should be set out before the intervention. Good practice also shows that if you set out evaluation criteria before you start your project will be more focused and more likely to succeed.

Moderator

Good to know Rallyboy perhaps we can include a link to your site? I’ll be in touch after the chat!

Moderator

The panel have identified that Problem Solving is utilised in the business world so why is the uptake so sporadic in crime reduction? Is it simply due to impassioned individuals?

paul scott

good practice - suggest you see the library of guides on the COPS site.

stuart kirby

I don’t think all businesses have solved this issue. I think it is something all aspire to but is very difficult to do. I think we often spend too much time ‘fire-fighting’ rather than problem solving.

paul scott

Moderator - i think that as organisations become so big and segmented, problem solving is seen as someone else's problem

jano

The National Community Safety Network, currently offer two courses for community safety officers; the Introduction to and the Foundation. When group training is provided it can be tailor-made to suit their specific requirements. For further information ring: 01244-322314

Moderator

Matthew S: Even sharing police and LA data won’t give a full picture of criminal damage. Is it better to solve the problem based on what you know, or wait and try to get more data somehow?

Moderator

Jan Earlier on in the chat NCSN training on SARA and PAT was mentioned. Do you offer stand alone problem solving training or is this part of the courses you mention above?

Dan Clacher

On the criminal damage q, as with so many others we always seem to want more data. There comes a time when taking some form of action can lead to more of the vital data coming to the fore.

Moderator

I am aware the Jill Dando Institute also offers crime reduction training, are any of our chatters aware of other regional training providers in this subject matter?

keith mcgroary

Re 55 steps - this link is for the ‘updfated USA version with 60 steps!
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/mime/open.pdf?Item=1597

Bob Dimmock

Matthew. I agree with your point. I have experience of the police and LA dealing with reports of criminal damage differently. The police record a crime the LA record it to repair it. These should be joined up and we should also take note of the softer evidence from neighbourhood meetings

paul scott

neil - I think you might know someone.

stuart kirby

I agree with Dan in relation to your question on criminal damage but I also think it is dangerous to progress without properly defining the problem as it is open to assumptions and subjective interpretation. At a practical level this makes it difficult to analyse the constituent parts of the problem. Work on signal crime i.e. visual audits has been useful in this area.

Moderator

Matthew S: My take is that as long as you are tackling a problem as evidenced by the data, even if you don’t get perfection you’ll get an improvement, and then go again... as Dan says, by taking action you’ll get more information, so it is iterative. Involving Neighbourhood teams and consulting the community has to be vital.

Keith Taylor

Paul S. Problem solving is almost compartmentalised by organisations so that there is an opportunity to ‘pass on’ responsibility to those associated with the subject. Currently neighbourhood policing has a particular association with problem solving but it is just as important to ensure that problem solving is associated with major and serious issues

jano

The one day course is centered around problem solving including PAT and SARA and is best delivered to multi-agencies. This course can be defined around particular local needs and problems. For further details please call the admin team 01244-322314.

keith mcgroary

For those who are researching problem solving and potential implementation etc, I have copied in the direct web address for Hampshire Police problem solving page.

http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/advice/prime.htm

Dan Clacher

The Home Office is currently looking to embed problem solving in performance regimes across partnerships and police forces. The Neighbourhood Policing programme has provided an excellent opportunity to do this and C/Insp Polly King at the PPSU is currently working with a number of boards/partnerships/stakeholders to mover the agenda along.

Neil Henson

Do I take it from the fact I only got one reply on the idea of an Institute of Problem Solvers, that its a non runner?

paul scott

Keith: I agree we are starting to look at mainstreaming problem solving across all departments and partner groups. I think this will be very difficult.

Rallyboy

In reference to the what works website within the Home office in Wales/ Welsh Assembly Govt Website I have included the link: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/safety/crimereduction/whatworks/?lang=en

stuart kirby

I agree I think serious and organised crime is well placed to benefit from a problem solving approach. I know in Lancashire all departments were asked to put in examples for the annual conference and we had some great examples i.e. motorway (preventing a bridge being used by suicide victims), stolen vehicle unit (cloned registration plates), firearms unit (BB guns).

Moderator

Is there any where that practitioners can access information about these projects to find out more about the approaches?

paul scott

How did you move beyond the department perception that long-term problem solving is not our problem, we kick down doors etc.

Moderator

We have 10 minutes remaining - final burning questions for the panel? Or some tips on how you have encouraged others to take a problem solving approach in your locality/partnership?

stuart kirby

The Lancashire Constabulary has an internal intranet site for problem solving initiatives. Contact can be made through the POP co-ordinator, Lancashire Constabulary.

Keith Taylor

In Merseyside we have recently tackled organised crime through ‘seahog’ This was a problem solving approach to the security industry, particularly associated with the protection of building sites and threats to staff and site managers by organised gangs

stuart kirby

We put performance management alongside our implementation of this approach. Every two months we had a POP meeting (chaired by a Chief Officer) where all operational areas and departments would provide an example. The Constabulary also had an annual conference where you can gauge progress. You have something similar in the MPS?

Dan Clacher

The police service will always have a need for the ‘door kickers’. The challenge for the problem solvers is that they make sure they are kicking the right doors, and that they’re not continuously going back to the same doors. We have to accept that within the community safety world we all approach it with different skills, needs and expectations.

keith mcgroary

Sometimes the NIM can be at fault, in that TCG’s generally meet every 2 weeks and there can often be an expectation that there will have been significant progress in an area or indeed the problem ‘sorted’, so we can move onto the next problem; this does not encourage a longer-term, sustainable approach to the problem.

Bob Dimmock

You have to show ‘whats in it for them’ Often organisations fail to recognise that by working in partnership and working smarter towards a problem that they benefit. Often they think its resource and financially demanding and it doesn’t have to be. Its business as usual but in a joined up way.

paul scott

We have just had the 2nd Safer London Problem Solving Conference showcasing successful problem solving initiatives. Film summaries can be found on the Safer London Foundation website. Written summaries are included on the home Office site. I seem to remember Lancashire having very interesting annual conferences too. Are they still going on?

Neil Henson

If anyone is interested in the work being done at a Borough level on Problem Solving and Partnerships, with all its ups and downs, then please email me at neil.henson@met.police.uk

stig

Very interesting. Thanks everyone. And thanks Alex.

Moderator

That’s nearly the end of today’s chat. A edited transcript of the questions and answers will be added to the chat home page in the next few weeks and emailed to everyone logged on. (http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/chat_index.htm)

stuart kirby

contact e-mail address for stuart kirby is s.kirby@lancaster.ac.uk

Keith Taylor

In Merseyside the Chief Constables awards this year will feature recognition of problem solving. Rewards and recognition are an insensitive, Tilley etc, this is a means of encouraging problem solving.

keith mcgroary

If you want to contact me at a future date, my e-mail address is keith.mcgroary@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Bob Dimmock

I can be contacted on bob.dimmock@dudley.gov.uk

Keith Taylor

Any future contact please email me at keith.taylor@merseyside.pnn.police.uk

stuart kirby

The annual conference at Lancashire has been a great success and they celebrated their 10th conference last year. It is a great showcase to reward those who have engaged with really important community issues. I know Hertfordshire have a similar one.

paul scott

I can be contacted on paul.scott@met.police.uk

Dan Clacher

My final observation around problem solving is that we all know it works. We all know how spectacular it can be when ‘sink estate’ or community is turned around. The challenge for us is get into those areas that have been seen to be too difficult to penetrate, and too hard to change. There’s plenty out there for us to do and now’s the time to do it!

dan.clacher@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Moderator

Thanks everyone for taking part. We are lucky enough to have two chats on the 1st May. The first at 12-14.00 is about the Drug Intervention Programme and the PPO Scheme. The later chat at 14.30-16.30 is about the Satisfaction Gap between BME & white victims of crime.