Tackling the Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour Issues that Matter Locally

Samantha Leahy-Harland

Police Reform Unit, Home Office

Background to changes

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec2008

Policing Green Paper • New deal to give police more freedom and public more power• Focus on partnership working• Change to performance management– increased role for HMIC; strategic role for HO• Single top-down numerical target for forces on confidence

PSA 23 (Make Communities Safer)

• Addressing issues of greatest priority in a local area

• Priority Action 3 – to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour of greatest importance in each locality

• Indicator 3 – public confidence in local agencies dealing with the ASB and crime issues that matter to be in their local area.

Flanagan Review

• Reduction in police bureaucracy

• Importance of neighbourhood policing

• Local engagement and accountability

• Problem solving and partnership working

Crime and Communities Review

• Visible policing and visible justice

• Community engagement

• Feedback and local information

Context to the Green Paper

Officers should focus their time on doing the right things and using the

right processes

It is only by engagement with the public that the police service can know where it's targets and priorities should

be

The police need to move from being risk averse to

risk conscious 91% of the public think that standards of service by the police should be the same

wherever they live

75% of the public are prepared to play an active role in tackling crime

Sir Ronnie Flanagan’s Independent Review of Policing

Sir Ronnie Flanagan’s Independent Review of Policing in England and Wales Published in two stages 12 September 2007 (interim) – 26 recommendations 7 February 2008 (final) – further 33 recommendations

Four main themes1. Sustaining progress made on neighbourhood policing2. Improving local involvement and accountability3. Making the most effective use of resources4. Reducing bureaucracy and promote better business processes

Explored through four separate workstreams, informed by a widevariety of people, both internal and external to the police service

Surveys and discussion groups with the public

Public call for evidence and events

Visits & consultation

Existing evidence and literature

Commissioned by PM, reporting to 6 cabinet ministers. Led by Louise Casey.

To understand how local communities and agencies can work together to:

• reduce crime in their areas,

• raise community confidence in local agencies

• lower the fear of crime

Heard from over 10,000 members of the public in total

Background to Crime and Communities Review

What the public thought: Crime and anti-social behaviour are major concerns

They support the police but are not clear about the policing offer or where to go if they have concerns

They are not told enough about what happens in a system that it is remote and impenetrable.

That wrong-doers do not face adequate consequences for the crimes they commit and

They think that the system isn’t on their side

fearaltered behaviour

Less effective response

lowconfidence

disengagement

perception

Why does this matter?

Findings from the Crime and Communities Review

Policing Green Paper – key themes

Empowering citizens New Policing Pledge Local crime information New community safety fund

Professionalising and freeing up the police Independent advocate for reducing bureaucracy Shortened crime recording process Scrapping the stop and account form £80m investment in mobile data devices New fast track, leadership college and development of future chiefs

Performance and strategy Clarity on the levels at which decisions are best made Stronger and more independent inspectorate Streamlined role for the Home Office Single performance target on public confidence

What will this mean for the public?

PSA 23 – Make Communities Safer

Priority Action 3 is to tackle the crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour issuesof greatest importance in each locality, increasing public confidence in the localagencies involved in dealing with these issues

Two indicators under PA 3:Indicator 3 Public confidence in local agencies dealing with the ASB and crime

issues that matter to people in their local area Indicator 4 Perceptions of anti-social behaviour

Measured by indicators to track by proxy the success of local partnerships intackling local priorities and illustrate changes in public confidence

The single confidence target reflects the PSA indicator from the BCS:

“It is the responsibility of the police and local council working in partnership to deal with anti-social behaviour and crime in your local area”

How much do you agree that the police and local council are dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in this area?

How will the target work?

“Whether people think that the police and their partners are dealing with the crime and anti-social behaviour issues that matter locally”

• Hard edged measure

• Aim to focus action on dealing with local priorities i.e. providing a good customer service

• But must not be at the expense of other priorities (such as dealing with serious crime or protective services)

• Targets will be force specific – poorer performers will be expected to improve more

• Targets will be based on the national baseline of 45% established from 6 months BCS data 9Oct 07 – Mar 08)

• Targets will be deliberately stretching – Green Paper has cleared the way for change

W/C 15 December – Forces informed of indicative targets

Consultation on indicative targets until mid-January

End of January - Quarter 4 BCS data received

February – targets finalised

8 December - HS WMS on Strategic Policing Priorities

February - Place Based Survey baseline available

March – LAA agreed

2009/10 Policing Plans issued

What drives ‘confidence’ locally?

Actual crime

Levels of recorded crime and anti-social behaviour in an area

Perceptions of the police

Whether they are dealing with the things that matter to people

Perceptions of fairness

Perception of police integrity

Other factors

Political views, including views on sentencing policy etc

Demographic issues

General satisfaction with an area

Perceptions of crime and anti-social behaviour

People’s perceptions of crime and disorder in their area

Confidence that the government is protecting the public

Confidence that crime is being dealt with locally

Perceptions about whether the crime rate has increased/decreased

Feelings of personal safety

Worry about crime generally or particular types of crime

Personal experiences

Direct: Victims and witnesses, reporters of incidents, complainants

Indirect: Family members, observers, neighbours

Word of mouth

‘System insiders’ – views of the police themselves/internal advocates

Sources of information

National media: More coverage but more negative

Local media: More trusted but less coverage

KEY DRIVERS OF LOCAL

CONFIDENCE

Community experiences

Positive perceptions of a neighbourhood

Neighbourhood policing: Area visibility, local accountability, responsiveness, problem solving

What do we know that works?

More visible and accessible services

Better community engagement

Action to tackle local priorities

Providing better support to victims and witnesses

Providing more information about crime and policing

Key actions to improve confidence

Actions

New Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Coordinators

Community Crime Fighters

Embedding the Policing Pledge

Implementation of Crime Maps

New ASB Squad

Improved partnership working

Contact Management Programme

Improve knowledge and understanding of what drives and impacts confidence

Outcomes

Neighbourhood policing that is integrated with other local services

Responsive and accountable police that deliver to a clear and consistent standard

Informed and actively engaged public who know what is being done to tackle their priorities and the consequences for offenders

Support for victims and witnesses that puts their needs first

A workforce (police, local authorities, courts etc) that is properly trained, skilled and supported to deliver a quality service that meets the needs of the public

Questions?

samantha.leahy-harland@homeoffices.gsi.gov.uk

020 7035 1925