Violent Crime Prevention Board Strategy. 26 September Violent Crime Prevention using Vision to Champion Progress

Transcription

1 Violent Crime Prevention Board Strategy 26 September 2018 Violent Crime Prevention using Vision to Champion Progress

2 Page2 Violent Crime Prevention Board (VCPB) Strategy 2018 to Introduction This strategy will outline how the Violent Crime Prevention VCPB in partnership with local community leaders, community members, a range of agencies, the Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and police services, aim to support the prevention of violent crime. Our vision: We believe that London and the UK should be an aspirational place. Each citizen has a right to feel safe in the diverse, community where they live, study, work or visit. The Violent Crime Prevention VCPB is an independent body that seeks to offer intelligence-led, strategic advice and information. This will be of benefit to the community, local authorities, the police, statutory and government agencies to help prevent violent crime - in particular, among young people. The need for the VCPB: We are concerned about the high numbers of deaths and injuries in London and the UK, as a result of violent crime. The Metropolitan police recognise that they cannot tackle this increasing problem alone. An approach which joins with the community and third and public sectors can more effectively and sustainably identify the root causes of issues leading to violent crime. The VCPB believe that a diversionary strategy is a key component of crime prevention. 2. Background Information - What is Violent Crime? A violent crime is one in which an offender uses, or threatens to use, force upon a victim. In these crimes, the violence, or threat of violence, is either the objective or a means to an end. Areas of Focus for the VCPB: A number of studies have been commissioned in recent years on the subject of serious violence 1. Most of these identify the following areas as significant contributory factors to the 1

3 Page3 Time-line of crime as follows: domestic abuse; family and fatherlessness, peer pressure and gang affiliation; substance abuse; socio-economic disadvantage; mental and physical health issues and education and exclusion. The VCPB will focus on selected themes from this timeline and collaborate with the community, third sector, local and central government and the police to facilitate a diversionary approach to the prevention of violent crime. The Board will also commission quality research and the reports and recommendations will be shared with relevant partners to influence policy makers and operational delivery. Reports will be available on the VCPB website. The Importance of Family While it is often assumed that the main focus should be upon the age-group that is committing the majority of the offences: teenagers and those in their early twenties, the VCPB will adopt a strategy that focuses on the family as a whole. We also recognise the emerging research recommending diversionary strategies for much younger children, as well as work on early intervention and prevention. The VCPB also recognise that according to the Office of National Statistics that 76% of violent crime is committed by men - mainly between the ages of 25 and 39 2, therefore a mapping exercise to identify and consolidate the range of services to support such individuals will be conducted. Physical and Mental Health A number of factors can influence an individual s experiences of health and mental health. These include environment, economy, living conditions, opportunity, education and housing. Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It is recognised as one of the contributing factors to violent crime. 2 eandsexualoffences/yearendingmarch2016/overviewofviolentcrimeandsexualoffences

4 Page4 Statistics and Recent Reports Statistics show that most people aren t directly affected by crime: in 2017, four out of five people didn t experience a crime and, overall, crime has been decreasing since The Crime Survey in England and Wales (CSEW) reports that the number of offences fell from 11.4M 3 to 10.6M. However, high-harm incidents, involving knives and firearms, are increasing. Also, figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) 4 reveal a 22% increase in knife offences. The VCPB will utilise relevant statistics to inform its decision-making. These will include the following: 1. Reports from Scotland Yard 2. Research from partner universities 3. Research from MOPAC and All Party Group on Knife-Crime 4. Other relevant reports and statistics 3. Strategic objectives We will work as partners with local community leaders, local authorities and police Borough Commanders and their strategic leads with responsibility for Borough plans, co-workers with other VCPBs and groups that are developing or delivering plans to prevent specific violent crimes, such as knife, gang and gun strategies. We will deliver objectives of this strategy under the following themes depicted in the VCPB model see annex A: 1. Commission research 2. Establish community and organisational relationships 3. Share the voice of the community 4. Influence and inform local and national government departments as appropriate including training 5. Celebrate and promote success stories 6. Health and Mental health 7. Media and communication The VCPB will meet on a monthly basis and scrutinise data provided by police colleagues that highlight the scale of the problem relating to violent crime. Each of the following themes is described to present focus and clarity of intended outcomes: 3 Crime Survey in England and Wales, Office of National Statistics, Knife crime rose to almost 39,000 offences

5 Page5 1. Research: 1.1 The VCPB will work in partnership with the Police College and Global City Policing at University College London to conduct research and evaluation of identified interventions. 1.2 The VCPB will commission research and literature reviews on causes, impact and prevention of violent crime. 1.3 Using findings from research, the VCPB will identify activities and interventions that work towards preventing violent crime and create a repository of reports, toolkits and recommendations. 1.4 Using findings from research, the VCPB will identify gaps and initiatives that may offer solutions or commission identified community groups to pilot innovations that may contribute to preventing violent crime. 1.5 Advise Government bodies and other agencies on models of good practice to prevent violent crime identified through research findings and a directory of community provision. 1.6 The VCPB will identify and evaluate services delivered by community groups; develop and make available a list of reputable, evaluated community provision in various London boroughs. 2. Establish Community Relationships 2.1 The VCPB will further develop relationships with community leaders as well as those in educational facilities and wider youth provision, to hear the views of community members (parents, children and young people) in order to represent their voice when considering activities that might offer preventative solutions. The Board also believes that it is important to hear the voices of young people specifically affected by violent crime and will include their contributions to solutions. 2.2 The VCPB will establish sub-boards of experts who will provide intelligence and advice to support the strategic Board in its aims to prevent violent crime. 2.3 Members of the VCPB will work within their allocated Boroughs as independent partners to identify community leaders, Independent Advisory Group chairs, faith-based and others as appropriate. These relationships will be used to inform and help them to understand the issues of violent crime and how they can be involved in the solutions. 2.4 The VCPB will position itself as a critical friend to the police through its relationships with BCU Commanders and senior police staff.

6 Page6 3. Share the Voice of the Community 3.1 Through established relationships with community leaders and other relevant community ambassadors, members of the VCPB will attend community forums and other events that enable them to listen to the voice of the community. 3.2 Members of the VCPB will agree community priorities and share these with the local authority, police and other partners. 3.3 The designated youth VCPB member will capture the youth prospective via attendance and engagement with a range of youth forums and meetings. The results will inform the strategic Board in its planning on youth issues. 4. Influence and inform local and national government departments as appropriate 4.1 The VCPB will use its position as community liaison and police partner, with access to data, to make suggestions and recommendations that influence the use of resources to impact, reduce and prevent violent crime. 4.2 The VCPB will use its influence to enable networking opportunities and signpost community leaders, police and local authority as appropriate to useful initiatives that can be adapted and replicated as appropriate. 4.3 The VCPB will use networking opportunities to publish information and details regarding interventions delivered in a range of settings such as; schools, community groups, faithbased provision, the voluntary sector, mentoring, parenting and a range of practical programmes. 4.4 Members of the VCPB will attend multi-agency meetings upon invitation and contribute as a critical friend. 4.5 The VCPB will communicate and engage with the appropriate government department to suggest options that might decrease school exclusions and prevent violent crime. 4.6 The VCPB will engage with local faith-based organisations and encourage them to create safe spaces and opportunities for young people. This will be done in partnership with the local authority and police. 5. Celebrate and promote individuals that have never engaged in Violent Crime 5.1 The VCPB will use its influence to actively promote and celebrate the successes and achievements of the many young people and adults who have overcome societal challenges and constraints, yet have never been involved in crime.

7 Page7 5.2 The VCPB will acknowledge, promote and endorse individuals, groups or Boroughs that achieve its overall aim of preventing violent crime. 6. Physical and Mental Health 6.1 The VCPB will consider evidence that demonstrates the importance and impact of physical and mental health on violent crime. 6.2 The VCPBs medical specialist lead will provide data and advice to researchers, who will be commissioned to conduct a London wide, public health - led data analysis of emergency department attendances for knife injury. 6.3 The VCPB will influence a co-ordinated detailed, health-based response to knife crime and establish best practice on how health providers can interact with the community to demystify and de-glamorise knife crime. 6.4 The VCPB will engage partners using an evidence-based plan that can be evaluated, rolled out across London and be made available to other regions across the UK. This will include: a. Schools interventions b. Emergency department/ trauma centres c. Focused secondary prevention in the community d. Tertiary prevention - reducing retaliation 7. Media and Communication 7.1 The VCPB will develop a website which will be a major source of communicating information regarding events, celebrations, links to other organisations and other aspects in the prevention of violent crime. 7.2 The VCPB will communicate research results and recommendations including youth, the community, public bodies, universities, the police and the community in a manner that meets the requirements of a diverse audience. 7.3 Using outcomes from research and recommendations, the VCPB will develop guidance to support training for communities, police etc. 7.4 The VCPB will host events to communicate information to youth, communities, police and agencies. This will be achieved by using a range of media opportunities such as urban radio; national and local media; community focus groups and social media.

8 Page8 8. Risks to fulfilling the aims of this strategy 8.1 Risk of insufficient funds: The VCPB will need to secure sponsorship to maintain the website. 8.2 Risk of being able to publish classified information: Inability to publish statistics on the VCPB website.

9 Page9 Annex A

10 Implementation Plan: year one Activity against objectives Q1 Jul-Sept Q2 Oct-Dec Q3 Jan-Mar Q4 Apr-Jun 1. Commission Research Commission a 10 week literature review Publish literature review. Develop evaluation plan in which diversionary activities Interim report from research team. Populate website with stop and search information and are assessed and present reports on what works on an ongoing basis. Ongoing research reports presented for various audiences statistics Explore possibility of setting up student research/ dissertations (BSc/MSc and perhaps even PhD) to add to knowledge base Establish evaluation studies at various universities 2. Establish community and organisational relationships List of links and interventions of known positive interventions for website. Quarterly feedback between community presence and borough commands to understand where links are strong and where there are gaps. Continue to gather examples of good practice to submit to website. Report outcomes from evaluations.

11 Page2 Invite key stakeholders to formal launch. Family - identity and belonging interventions will be reviewed, coordinated and published. Invite grassroots and frontline community leaders/influencers to community launch. Engage with Churches and faithbased community to establish safe spaces for young people. VCPB members to proactively seek out organisations through the what works evaluation under the research objective. Establish links with MPS analysts and leads to evaluate innovations. Constantly maintain good repository of information for signposting and sharing of good practice. Activity against objectives Q1 Jul-Sept Q2 Oct-Dec Q3 Jan-Mar Q4 Apr-Jun 3. Share the voice of the community 4. Influence and inform local and national government departments as appropriate including training Invite community representatives to the launch of the VCPB Invite identified individuals to the launch VCPB members will establish relationships with community leaders and other relevant community by attending community forums or other opportunities to listen to the voice of the community. Get commitment from attendees to support the aims of the VCPB The VCPB will agree community priorities and share their voice with police and other partners. Include local and national government partners in establishment of our what works evaluation. Engage with government officials to influence the use of the VCPB s repository/reports and recommendations. The Voice of youth to be captured by youth VCPB lead, via attendance and engagement with a range of youth forums. Members of the VCPB will use their influence to elevate the concerns of the community. Share interim research report with local and national government as relevant. Host a meeting with interested bodies to consider progress in relation to identified themes. Invite key influencers to annual awards.

12 Page3 Activity against objectives Q1 Jul-Sept Q2 Oct-Dec Q3 Jan-Mar Q4 Apr-Jun 5. Health and Mental Health Present statistics and interventions that show evidences of positive outcomes that reduce, prevent and deter individuals from further involvement in violent crime. 6. Promote and Celebrate success stories Seek out and include success stories/speakers for formal launch. Galvanise the health sector to speak out about knife injury. Commission research to identify good practice and report on evidence based interventions. Services and Education providers to assess trends. Seek out and include success stories for community launches Promote events and successes on VCPB website Co-Chairs/Members to attend and support community events Promote and offer positive role models to those considering a career in the health care profession. Commission a London wide, public health led data analysis of emergency department attendances for knife injury using existing datasets from Local Authorities, Hospital Emergency Service, Metropolitan Police Plan annual recognition of success - against all odds The VCPB will increase its knowledge and ability to signpost other health care providers to good practice and evaluated interventions. Acknowledge celebrants annually

13 Page4 Activity against objectives Q1 Jul-Sept Q2 Oct-Dec Q3 Jan-Mar Q4 Apr-Jun 7. Media and communication Design logo. Create VCPB website. Synchronise communication plan with annual recognition Agree VCPB communications strategy. Consider means to disseminate literature review website/social awards using communications channels and media to promote. media Commence soft launch of VCPB (June) Plan and host formal launch. Produce marketing materials to support launch. Recruit volunteer interns to support social media comms. for each theme. Develop branding of VCPB through communications strategy establish reputability and relevance. Plan and deliver community launch Africa Centre Local and National media to be advised of celebrants

14 26 September 2018