Tilley Awards 2006
Lancashire Police win the 2006 awards with Operation Sea Quest
The Tilley Awards are named after Professor Nick Tilley of Nottingham Trent University, who has carried out considerable work in the UK, often commissioned by the Home Office, to develop problem-oriented policing (POP). They are funded by the Home Office Crime Reduction and Community Safety Directorate and were set up in 1999 to encourage and recognise excellence in crime reduction using problem-oriented partnership principles. As such, the awards have very close links to problem-oriented policing approaches. Appropriately, the awards are presented at the National POP Conference.
The winners of the Tilley Awards 2006 were announced on 5th September at the UK POP Conference . The were as follows:
Winner: Operation Sea Quest
In the aftermath of the Morecambe Bay tragedy, Lancashire Police began Operation Sea Quest by establishing an action group with members from a variety of agencies - ranging from the Sea Fisheries Committee to the Coast Guard to the Department of Work and Pensions. The group then used an intelligence-led, cohesive approach to develop safe practices for cockle-harvesters. This has meant significant improvements to the safety of those working on the cockle beds, and to the quality of life for the local community.
Operation Sea Quest is the overall winner of the Tilley Award 2006 and Lancashire Police have been invited to give a presentation on the Project at the International Problem Oriented Policing Conference in the USA during Autumn 2006.
Runner-up: Operation Jupiter
The Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the North Somerset Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership worked together on Operation Jupiter, addressing significant public concern about poor quality housing, and referrals from outside North Somerset for drug/alcohol rehabilitation treatment. No single organisation was responsible for these issues, so the team developed a problem profile in consultation with the Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership. The police intelligence unit coordinated multi-agency data, analysed intelligence, presented a strategic overview and developed recommendations.
A series of multi-agency tactics were developed to tackle problems, including visits to problematic premises and the cross-agency exchange of intelligence. The result was a 31% reduction in demand for the emergency and local services and a 6% reduction in crime.
Operation Jupiter was joint runner-up for the 2006 award. Avon & Somerset Constabulary gave a presentation on their project at the National Problem Oriented Policing Conference.
Runner-up: Reducing Street Drinking
The Southwark/Camberwell Green Safer Neighbourhood Team used a cross-agency approach to deal with its longstanding problem with street drinkers. The problem had worsened over the course of years, increasing from a few street drinkers on the benches in Camberwell Green into threatening groups of 50 congregated in busy areas. The community wanted the problem tackled once and for all, so the team aimed for a long-term solution to anti-social behaviour related to the street drinking.
Working with Southwark Council Community Safety, the police arranged for new protocols between the various agencies to help them exchange information. Individual drinkers were 'case conferenced' and their specific needs (housing, health, mental, etc) addressed. A process of escalating enforcement, including anti-social behaviour orders was supported by primary care trust and local authorities.
The result was a nearly 90% reduction in the number of street drinkers.
The Safer Neighbourhood Team were joint runners-up in this years awards. They too gave a presentation on their project to the National Problem-Oriented Policing Conference.
Special Award
In addition to the main prizes, a special award was given to Hampshire Constabulary for its Operation Mullion. This operation targeted Mayfield School - the largest secondary school in Portsmouth, which suffered from persistent anti-social behaviour and had more reported crimes in a year than all the other schools in Portsmouth combined. Operation Mullion set out a long-term plan to address the problem through Hampshire Constabulary's Problem Resolution In a Multi-agency Environment Strategy (PRIME).
Using guidance given from the Government's Safer Schools Partnership and the Association of Chief Police Officers paper on National Crime Recording Standards, they were able to work with students and involve the community and local media in addressing the school's problems. As a result they lowered mobile phone thefts by 95%, and criminal damage and vehicle crime by 100%.
Last update: Wednesday, September 13, 2006