Our vision for cutting crime 2008-11 and key public service agreements
A summary of what you need to know
Working in partnership, together we are reducing crime. Crime has reduced by 13% compared with the year ending March 2003 (year ending September 2007). This reduction has led to fewer victims of crime and anti-social behaviour across England and Wales. Reductions in recorded crime have often been highest in the areas where need was greatest. These significant achievements reflect the considerable hard work and commitment of a wide range of practitioners.
Title: Our vision for cutting crime 2008-11 and key Public Service Agreements: What you need to know
Author: Home Office
Number of pages: 12
Date published: February 2008
Availability: Download full report 
PDF 462Kb
The experience of delivering this reduction has taught us all much about what works in cutting crime. In particular, the emphasis that is needed on:
- intelligence-led problem solving
These issues are addressed in the Crime Strategy and the new PSAs, which start in April 2008 and which are summarised on the following pages.
Our shared experience has also informed the development of the strategy and the PSAs by helping us identify with practitioners the need to:
- enable greater local flexibility to respond to local priorities, within the context of national targets
- build public confidence in local partners and their response to local problems
- reduce disproportionate fear of crime
- reduce the drivers of crime, particularly drugs, alcohol and youth crime.
Together we have come a long way in tackling crime and improving community safety. The Crime Strategy and PSA framework will deliver even stronger working between the Government, practitioners and citizens themselves to improve the safety and confidence of our communities.
The Crime Strategy was announced by the Home Secretary in July 2007 and heralded a new phase in tackling crime. Building on the significant reductions in crime in recent years, it set the aspiration to continue to tackle crime, and increase public confidence, through:
In recent years, significant progress has been made on tackling domestic violence and low-level violence – but there is more to do to tackle the most serious violent crimes causing the greatest harm to individuals and society. Working together we will tackle violent crime by:
- addressing the drivers of violence
- preventing escalation.
A new violent crime action plan will set this out in more detail. The new PSA (‘Make communities safer’) also gives greater credit to tackling serious violence compared with the previous PSA (see page 7).
CONTINUED PRESSURE ON ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
A whole range of tools and powers has been introduced to tackle anti-social behaviour, and we know that it is working. But these tools and powers are still relatively new and we will focus on supporting practitioners to make the most appropriate and effective use of them, bringing all areas of the country up to the standard of the best.
RENEWED FOCUS ON YOUNG PEOPLE
Despite strong progress on improving the life chances of young people, there are still too many young people who offend or are at risk of offending – but also too little focus on the needs of young victims of crime. Working across Government, in 2008 we will publish a youth crime action plan to address these issues.
CONTINUING TO REDUCE REOFFENDING
Bringing criminals to justice (particularly prolific offenders) and reducing their reoffending is vital in tackling crime effectively. Jointly we will continue to strengthen the criminal justice system and offender management.
- The Government’s Strategic Plan for the Criminal Justice System 2008–11 sets out how the system will be simpler, more efficient and victim-focused, and will engage the public to increase confidence.
- The Ministry of Justice is currently consulting on the Government’s strategic approach to reducing reoffending.
BUILDING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
If crime falls but people do not see and feel that fall, their quality of life is affected and the benefits of reduced crime are not realised. To build confidence, we will:
- deliver a Neighbourhood Policing team in every neighbourhood by April 2008
- improve citizens’ opportunities to understand local crime issues and how they are dealt with, and hold agencies to account
- support partnerships in their effective engagement of local communities.
Drug and alcohol misuse are key drivers of crime. As we look to build upon our shared experiences in tackling these causes of crime, PSA 25: Reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs sets out the main strands of work in this area from 2008–11 (see page 8). Underpinning this is a new cross- government alcohol strategy for England (published June 2007) and a new drug strategy for England to be published later this year.
GREATER NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP , GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR LOCAL PRACTITIONERS
The new cross-government National Crime Reduction Board now ensures that all the relevant Whitehall departments, along with practitioners and the third sector, regularly take action on national level crime reduction issues.
It is vital that crime continues to reduce in all areas. But we recognise that this will look different in each area, depending on the profile of local issues.
Therefore new performance arrangements from April 2008 ensure:
- fewer targets mandated from the centre, with targets reflecting local priorities instead:
- local partners will establish priorities for improvement in their Local Area Agreements (LAAs)
- clarity about what will be measured for police and community safety partners:
- the new Assessment of Policing and Community Safety (APACS) will simplify existing Home Office performance assessment frameworks
- clarity about what effective partnership working looks like, and support to achieve this:
- this is provided through the guidance for CDRPs on effective partnership and support to specific partnerships with and through Government Offices and the Home Office crime team in Wales.
To view the full versions of all strategies referred to, visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk
THE GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENTS, 2008–11
Public Service Agreements (PSAs) set out for the public and practitioners Government’s delivery priorities and how Government will measure success. The two key PSAs for 2008–11 for crime reduction and community safety are:
- PSA 23 Make communities safer
- PSA 25: Reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs
These encapsulate the priorities laid out in the Crime Strategy and set out how success will be measured.
PSA 23: Make communities safer
This PSA is broken down into four priority actions, each reflecting the direction of the Crime Strategy:
- reduce the most serious violence, including tackling serious sexual offences and domestic violence
- continue to make progress on serious acquisitive crime through a focus on the issues of greatest priority in each locality and the most harmful offenders – particularly drug-misusing offenders
- tackle the crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour issues of greatest importance in each locality, increasing public confidence in the local agencies involved in dealing with these issues
- reduce reoffending through the improved management of offenders.
PSA 25: Reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs
This PSA sets out how Government will achieve long-term and sustainable reduction in the harms associated with alcohol and drugs. It provides a real focus for tackling some of the key drivers of crime.
The PSA has three main strands, underpinned by a new national alcohol strategy and a forthcoming drug strategy:
- reducing the harms caused to the development, achievement and well-being of young people and families
- reducing the harms caused to the health and well-being of drug users and those using alcohol in harmful ways
- reducing the harms caused to the community as a result of associated crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
The strands will be delivered through:
- public health campaigns and education to raise awareness of harms associated with substance misuse and renewed effort to address substance misuse among young people, particularly through early intervention
- a new focus on supporting the most at-risk families who are experiencing multiple problems
- helping people who use illegal drugs or drink harmfully to live healthier lives by providing information and advice and, for those who need it, treatment and support in re-establishing their lives
- tackling crime and the key drivers of offending, reducing the disorder and anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol and drugs, tackling the supply of drugs and the irresponsible sale or promotion of alcohol
- giving local areas increased flexibility to plan and use resources.
Other related PSAs
Early intervention
- PSA14: Increase the number of children and young people on the path to success
- PSA13: Improve children and young people's safety
Criminal Justice System
- PSA24: Deliver a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public
Communities
- PSA21: Build more cohesive, empowered and active communities
- PSA17: Tackle poverty and promote greater independence and well-being in later life
Increase the proportion of people over 65 who are satisfied with the home and their neighbourhood
Social exclusion
- PSA16: Increase the proportion of socially excluded adults in settled accommodation and employment, education or training.
Counter terrorism
- PSA26: Reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from international terrorism
KEY NEXT STEPS – PROVISIONAL DATES
February 2008
- Tackling Violence Action Plan published
- Drug Strategy published
March 2008
- Publication of gangs toolkit
- Promotion and review of Home Office/ACPO knife crime guidance
- Priority 44 Conference
April 2008
- Implementation of new Crime Strategy, new PSAs and new Drug Strategy begins
- Full roll-out of Neighbourhood Policing complete
May 2008
- Youth crime action plan published
- Conference on tackling violent crime (tbc)
Getting a copy
Last update: Monday, April 27, 2009