Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Police Research Series Paper 151, January 2002

This report details the results of an in-depth study of partnership working at three sites, focusing on the processes involved in these activities. The aim was to describe how the partnerships have approached these tasks, difficulties encountered and how these have been addressed.

Fieldwork was undertaken in 1999-2000 and involved a review of documentation, observation of a range of meetings and in-depth interviews with partnership representatives. The report contains examples of good practice and specific recommendations which should be useful to those involved in the second round of partnership working in combating the difficulties encountered the first time round. It also explores partnerships achievements to date and the challenges that remain.

The areas covered are partnership structures and working, auditing crime and disorder, consultation, and strategy development. There are a number of major issues identified together with some key recommendations.

Key recommendations

• To address the problem of health sector involvement, partnerships should consider including representatives from Primary Care Groups on their strategic bodies. These comprise general practitioners who are more knowledgeable about local service provision than health authority staff who have a more strategic role.
  
  

• To address the problem of limited time and resources, partnerships should consider how various partnership groups could co-ordinate their activities (for example by holding joint meetings of the main partnership body and YOT to address shared issues of concern)
  
  

• Neighbouring partnerships should consider co-ordinating their audits to combat difficulties with data exchange. This could involve drawing up data plans to co-ordinate requests for information from agencies incorporating different partnerships.
  
  

• When undertaking consultation, partnerships need to ensure co-ordination with other consultation exercises such as those for Best Value and policing plans. This could prevent duplication and encourage the use of a wider range of consultation methods. They could consider establishing an annual round of focus group research, to complement an annual public attitude survey.

Getting a copy

The full report can be obtained from the Home Office website:

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships: Round One Progress - full report 
PDF (274 Kb)

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships: Round One Progress - two page briefing note PDF (43 Kb)