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Problem Solving Seminar
Workshop 2
Problem Solving in Tackling Street Crime & Robbery
DCS Mike Barton, Lancashire Police
Key points from the presentation
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Using the SARA problem-solving model and linking to National Intelligence Model (NIM) disciplines, Lancashire Police identified street crime as an issue that needed to be addressed, although it was not in the control strategy.
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With an average of 30 robberies per week across the force area, many took place in or near open drugs markets. Operation Nimrod targeted drug dealers involved in and generating volume crime who had failed to take up the offer of help from the Tower Project, which involved drug treatment to help reduce re-offending.
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Operation Nimrod included a Community Reassurance plan and involved a rotating team of 2 x 12 test purchasers. There was evidence of communities engaging in the operation directly ("We've been nimrodded").
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Results showed that 500 Class A drug dealers were arrested, with the majority pleading guilty and receiving sentences over 3 years. Of 141 targets imprisoned, 101 have previous convictions for street crime, which has contributed to a reduction in street robberies to 25 per week across the force.
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The Tower Project (Axis was developed for the under 18s) aims to reduce re-offending by providing drug treatment. Of 137 clients to date, there are 43 in treatment out of 60 potential treatment spots available to the project. 37 offenders have been exited from Tower for various reasons.
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The project is funded by Communities Against Drugs and supported by the Police Standards Unit.
Key points from the discussion
The delegates discussed some of the issues raised by this project:
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Intervening with street criminals through targeting open drugs markets (Nimrod) and coercive drugs treatment (Tower) appears to work
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Lack of resources for, and coordination of, drug treatment services has an adverse effect on crime and reassurance
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This is especially true for a lack of doctor time and numbers of treatment workers
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Prison space - does it have an impact on sentencing?
Download PowerPoint presentation: Problem Solving in Tackling Street Crime & Robbery (445 Kb)
For further information contact DCS Barton.
Last update: 18 January 2005