April

2004
 Digest
Information
“To reduce crime and the fear of crime, tackle youth
crime and violent, sexual and drug-related crime,
anti-social behaviour and disorder, increasing safety
in the home and public spaces.”
Home Office Aim 1

This statement confirms our joint commitment to reduce crime and disorder. The Digest
is published quarterly and aims to support crime reduction/community safety practitioners
in police and local authorities working in statutory partnerships by facilitating information
exchange. The Digest is a forum for your initiatives and experiences. Its success depends on
you, the practitioners, contributing your articles. Deadline for copy is given below. Articles
MUST be submitted by this date.
So that everyone can benefit from your work and experience, we ask contributors to
consider both what worked and what didn’t work within their projects. Projects may be well
conceived and still not achieve all their aims; this does not mean they have failed. Please be
brave enough to discuss what aspects did not achieve the expected outcomes. Include as
much information as you can, covering the analysis of the problem and how it was
identified, the response devised and how it was implemented and an assessment of the final
outcomes.

Note:
The inclusion of material in the Digest or reference to any products/services does not
signify that they have been tested or evaluated. Nor should inclusion be thought to confer
‘official’ approval.
You can reproduce material from this Digest, but we ask that you reference CRC and the
originating organisation as the source, do not use the information out of context and
that there are no charges connected with the reproduction of the material.
April 2004
The next Digest will be
Centre Staff with you in July ‘04.

Director Information Services Training Team

All contributions must
Steve Trimmins Jane Carpenter David Fernley
be submitted by
Stuart Charman Gill Archibald
May 28th 2004.
Human Resources Richard Cox June Armstrong
Ann Keen John Goldsbrough Janet Caton
Abby Hickman Dee Cooley Contributions to:
Support Services Jane Jones Martin Fenlon Richard Cox
Liz Walton Kathleen Noble Amanda Form Information Services Team
Pam Foster Richard Wales Christine Morrison Tel: 01347 825065
Adrienne Jowitt-Thrall Jason Roach Fax: 01347 825097
Mark Ledder Kim Sutton
Ruth Whitaker Home Office
Crime Reduction Centre
Training Resource Solutions Editor Design/Production The Hawkhills, Easingwold,
Martin Jones Richard Cox Michael Hawtin York YO61 3EG
Simon Jones Tel: 01347 825060
For Training or General Enquiries:
Michael Hawtin Fax: 01347 825099
Lyndsey Ibbotson Tel: 01347 825060 E-mail: crc@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

April 2004 1
Contents News 4
You’re a Winner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Crime Reduction Website Refreshed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Centre News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
CRC Associate Trainer Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
City of London lead force role . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
New powers help communities continue crackdown on Anti-Social Behaviour . . . . . . .7
Compact Mediation Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
20 Arrests a day - Crimestoppers announces new figures showing increase
in calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
E-tailing Mini site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Motor Salvage Operators Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Partnership Working 10
Home Office Good Practice Seminars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Branding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Community Safety in Hyndburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Ideas and Initiatives 13

Avon & Somerset puts Bristol’s students in space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
HRH the Princess Royal Presents International Community Justice Awards . . . . . . . . .13
Car Thefts reduced due to pioneering scheme helping motorists at risk . . . . . . . . . . .14
Domestic Violence Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Tackling Beauty Spot & Rural Car Park Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Change for the Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Eagles Soaring to Slam Dunk Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Operation Eskell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Phone Centre is tackling crime and fear of crime for senior citizens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Leeds Distraction Burglary Community Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Vehicle Crime Prevention Letter Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Safer Homes Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Enhancing Police and Private Security Visibility Within the West End of London . . . . .18
Travel Safe - Taxi Stewarding Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Any views expressed in this

publication are those of the
authors and may not
necessarily reflect Home Office
or Government policy.

2 Contents April 2004

Publications 20
Protecting Children Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Think Thief - A Designer’s Guide to Designing Out Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
‘Cannabis is STILL Illegal’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Frank Action Update - Cannabis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
In the Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Police Officers Guide to Ultraviolet Security Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Forensic Psychology: Concepts, debates and practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
‘Watch Over Me’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Research 24
Violence at Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Quarterly Crime Statistics: January 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Alcohol audits, strategies and initiatives: lessons from Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnerships. Home Office Development and Practice Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Alcohol and violence Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Crime Reduction Programme: An Evaluation of Community Service
Pathfinders Project Final Report 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Drugs, Young People and Service Provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Acceptable Behaviour Contracts addressing anti-social behaviour in the
London Borough of Islington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Talking Shop 27
‘Best’ Practice? Finding your way through the fog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Each article in the Digest
Criminology Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 is highlighted with an
icon which will define
the product described in
The Digest - previous issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 that article. They are:

CPI Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Campaign/

Initiative

Publication

Video

Website/
Electronic
Information

General/
Exchange
of Ideas/
Conferences

April 2004 Contents 3

News You're a winner!
Thank you to everyone who took the time
to complete the questionnaire included in
January's Digest and online at the Crime
Reduction Website.
We had a good response and received
lots of useful feedback that we can build on
to make sure we provide the best services
we can.
The winner of the prize draw to win a
digital camera was Richard Bartram of
Sussex Police.
Congratulations to Richard, your
Canon Powershot camera will be with you
very soon.
We've already started to act on the
feedback we received from you. As you'll
see from this edition of the Digest, we've
changed the format and introduced some
new features and ideas.
We've also changed the Crime
Reduction Website to make it easier for you
to find what you're looking for. You can
read more about the changes to the site on
the next page.
One common theme in lots of the
completed questionnaires was that many of
you weren't aware of the full range of
services provided by the Centre's
Information Services Team. As well as
producing the Digest and managing the
Crime Reduction Website, we have a
dedicated team of three staff who provide a
crime reduction enquiries service for crime
reduction practitioners from the Police,
Partnerships, voluntary sector and other
agencies and organisations.

Need
information
on crime
reduction? Let us
help you!
We respond to over 700 enquiries per month and can provide you with the latest
information on crime reduction/community safety initiatives and projects, Home Office
and other crime reduction research, practice reports and publications.

Contact the team on Tel: 01347 825058 or via e-mail: crc@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

01347 825058
crc@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

4 News April 2004

 Crime Reduction Website Refreshed
The Crime Reduction Website(CRW) has been much used over the past three years and has
grown from a small set of information pages to a large website populated with a wealth of
information. As the site has grown, we know that it has become progressively harder to find
the right piece of information that you’re looking for. A recent audit of the site confirmed
this when it found the site to have “very good content that, on the whole, is very well
written and is to be commended” but that “it can prove difficult for the user to find the
resources that are most appropriate”.
We’ve now taken a long, hard look at the site, spoken to users and developed a new-look
CRW with a totally re-vamped way of browsing around the site that we think will be much
easier to use. Information on the site is now sorted into the following 8 categories:
• News • Ideas & Initiatives • Publications & Publicity
• Learning • Research • Mini-sites
• Links • Discussion Forum

Some of these will be familiar to regular site users, but some categories
are brand new. News will allow you see the latest crime-based news
releases from around the UK. Ideas & Initiatives will let you see what has
been tried elsewhere and get a few fresh ideas, without having to re-invent
the wheel. Publications & Publicity will combine all the guidance,
journals, consultations and publicity materials that have been published
recently. Research will bring together all the latest research and crime
statistics both from the UK and abroad.
As well as changing the way you can browse around the site, we’ve also
replaced and revamped the search engine. Our new search facility will let
you know what type of file you’ve found and how relevant it is to your search. Most
importantly, the new search engine has been significantly tweaked so that it should find
exactly what you’re after more frequently than the previous engine. You can also choose to
exclude the Toolkits and Audits & Strategies from your searches - something that feedback has Stuart Charman, Webmaster,
told us is a bugbear for some of you. The third part of the refresh has been to revise the way Crime Reduction Centre, The
that pages are laid out, making them clearer. Hawkhills, Easingwold,
We’ll still be picking up information from sources all around the UK and overseas - and York, YO61 3EG Tel: 01347
publishing anything we think might be of use or interest to you as a crime reduction 825064 E-mail:
practitioner. So take the time to visit the Crime Reduction Website at Stuart.Charman
www.crimereduction.gov.uk and let us know what you think of the new site. @homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Centre News
Congratulations to Simon and Jane Jones on the birth of their daughter. Elleanor
Charlotte Elizabeth Jones arrived safely on the 22nd January weighing 6 lbs. 11oz.
Pamela Foster joined the Crime Reduction Centre in
February as Support Services manager. She previously worked for
Halifax PLC as a Business Banking Advisor. Prior to this Pam was
at Leicester University where she studied Psychology.
Martin Jones joined Training
Resource Solutions (TRS) in January
as Team Leader. Before joining the
Centre, Martin worked for a
training company in the private
sector working in a variety of areas including the design
and development of computer-based training products,
training consultancy and project management.

April 2004 News 5

 CRC Associate Trainer Award
2342 and rising...
We have nearly completed the regional
roll-out of the Associate Trainer award and
have trained 195 people who are now able
to deliver the “Introduction to Crime &
Disorder Reduction” one-day course
to practitioners. Over 2342 certificates
have been issued to participants on
the course and feedback continues to be
very positive.
Our aim over the last year was to work
with Government Offices (GOs) for the
Regions to make sure each region has a
pool of Associate Trainers it can use to help
skill-up members of crime & disorder
reduction partnerships. More recently,
Associate Trainers have delivered the pack
to a wider audience, including elected
members. Our aim over the coming year is
to work more closely with the GOs to help
support Associate Trainers. CRC is aiming to
become a City & Guilds Centre and we are
planning to pilot an Advanced Associate
Trainer Award based on a professional
training qualification.
Martin Fenlon, who leads on the
Associate Trainer award for CRC, says “we
have built a good foundation with the
network of Associate Trainers in every
region. We now need to support them by
providing new training materials adapted
to the needs of different audiences that
promote good practice.”
The Associate Trainer programme will
continue to play a significant role in CRC’s
developing role as the national hub of good
practice in crime & disorder reduction.
For more information contact: Martin Fenlon,
Training Team, Crime Reduction Centre,
The Hawkhills, Easingwold, York, North
Yorkshire, YO61 3EG Tel: 01347 825076
E-mail: martin.fenlon@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

City of London lead force role

Home Office & Corporation of London

The fight against fraud will be boosted by a £2 million cash injection from April 2004. In
December 2003 Home Office Minister Caroline Flint announced that the City of London
Police will receive additional funding so that they can take the lead in investigating fraudsters
and complex fraud cases. The additional investment of £2 million per year - provided by the
Home Office and the Corporation of London - will support the expansion of the City of
London Police fraud squad. This will be backed by a further one-off payment of £1 million
from the Home Office to fund the capital costs of expansion. This funding is not time
limited. The Home Office and the Corporation of London have agreed to provide £1m each
in the first year, index linked (to the annual increase in the Home Office provision for police
funding) for future years. The City of London Police operate within London’s ‘square mile’
and have built up a wealth of expertise in investigating complex fraud cases. Their expertise
and experience will now be used to uncover and prosecute serious fraud wherever it occurs
in the South East - not just the City. This is a significant increase in resources and expertise
dedicated to fighting fraud, enabling the police to step up and speed up investigations. The
City’s expanded Economic Crime Basic Command Unit will provide police resources for the
majority of Serious Fraud Office (SFO) cases and take the lead on all fraud investigations
across the South East. City Police will also assist other forces by investigating complex fraud
cases that fall outside SFO criteria. The City of London Police will be the first force to be
recognised as a ‘lead force’, as outlined in the recent Green Paper on Policing: Building Safer
Communities Together.

For further information about the City of London Police lead force role please contact Sue Griffiths in the
Home Office Business Crime team, 1st Floor, 85 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6PD
Tel: 020 7411 5594 E-mail: susan.griffiths@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

6 News April 2004

 New powers help communities continue
crackdown on Anti-Social Behaviour
Home Office

The single biggest package of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour has come into force.
These new powers are being introduced after Government consultation with communities
and practitioners.
The powers are part of the Government’s national ‘Together’ campaign, which follows
the establishment last year of the Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit based at the
Home Office and the publication of the Together Action Plan in October 2004.
The powers are contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and include:
• giving county councils and housing action trusts permission to apply for anti-social
behaviour orders to help tackle nuisance neighbours
• closure of crack houses
• dispersal of groups causing harassment or intimidation
• restrictions on ownership of airguns
• a new offence of possession of an air weapon or replica firearm in a public place without Details of the Anti-Social
reasonable excuse Behaviour Act 2003 can be
• a ban on the sale and manufacture of high powered air weapons found at the Home Office
• extending penalty notices for disorder to 16 and 17-year-olds website:
• lifting automatic reporting restrictions on anti-social behaviour orders on conviction in www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
youth court. docs2/asb_act.html

Compact Mediation Scheme

The Compact Mediation Scheme was
introduced in early 2003 to provide an
independent mediation service to settle
disputes that arise between government
and the voluntary and community sector
related to the Compact at both central and
regional level.
The “Compact on Relations between
Government and the Voluntary and
Community Sector in England” and Codes
of Good Practice (covering Black and
Minority Ethnic groups, Consultation,
Funding, Volunteering and Community
groups,) is a set of principles and under-
takings that provide a framework for how
the Government and the voluntary and
community sectors should work together.
From 7 April 2004, the Home Office is
extending the scope of the Compact
Mediation Scheme to cover disputes around
Local Compacts.
Mediation is a method of alternative
dispute resolution (ADR). Government has
pledged to use ADR in all suitable cases
wherever the other party accepts it. In
mediation the parties themselves, with the
help of a neutral mediator, work out a
mutually acceptable solution.
Mediation is:
• voluntary - both sides must agree to go
to mediation
• private and confidential
• affordable and cost-effective
• conducted by a fully trained
professional mediator
• leads to a rapid and binding solution
(about 80% of mediations settle in
one day)
• it can help to ensure continued positive
relationships
Currently over four in five local
authority areas have a Local Compact
(involving local public bodies such as
Learning and Skills Councils, Primary Care If you want to find out more
Trusts and NHS Trusts and voluntary and about the scheme and Local
community groups) and it is expected that Compacts, you can visit the
remaining areas will begin work on one by following websites:
April 2004. It is at local level that www.cedr-solve.com/
government and the sector have the most compact
interaction and therefore potential for
conflict. To address this gap in the scheme, www.thecompact.org.uk
mediation is now being offered as an
option for dealing with disputes between www.lga.gov.uk/
local public bodies and the local voluntary OurWork.asp?lsection
and community sector. =59&ccat=258

April 2004 News 7

 20 Arrests a day - Crimestoppers
announces new figures showing increase
in calls
Crimestoppers Trust

2003 was one of the most successful years in the Crimestoppers Trust’s 15 year history. New
figures released in January show that both the number of calls and arrests reached recorded
highs. Calls to the Crimestoppers number increased by 24% since 2002, while arrests were
up 22%, leading to the recovery of £5million worth of property and £15 million worth of
drugs.
This new volume of calls means that every day, around 20 people are arrested and charged as
For further information a result of information given to Crimestoppers, which also plays a vital role in making
contact Jane Reay at Britain’s communities safer from violent crime. Every 5 days, somebody is charged with
Crimestoppers Trust, murder following calls to Crimestoppers, totalling over 65 arrests throughout the year.
E-mail: jane.reay@ Since it began in 1988, Crimestoppers has received over 640,000 calls with useful
crimestoppers-uk.org information, resulting in over 57,000 arrests and charges. Over £65 million worth of
Tel: 0208 254 3240 property and over £84 million worth of drugs have been recovered.

E-tailing Mini site

Home Office Business Crime Team

...provides
“
A Mini-site dedicated to good practice in e-tailing was added to the existing Mini-sites on
the Crime Reduction Website early in January. The new Mini-site, created by the Home
advice on Office Business Crime Team, brings together a wealth of existing information on electronic
crime prevention in one place.
buying and E-tailing, or e-commerce, is business conducted over an electronic network where the
buyer and seller are not at the same location, for example plastic card transactions via the
selling safely internet. This type of transaction can present opportunities for ‘card not present’ fraud, i.e.
fraud that happens when the card or its holder are not present at the point of sale.
on-line...
”
Card fraud in Britain cost £424.6m in 2002 (the most recent figures available) and
around £28m of that total was fraud committed over the internet (7% of all card fraud losses
that year). This type of fraud generally happens because card details, which have been
obtained fraudulently are then used to make a purchase. Card details can be taken from
discarded receipts or may be copied down without the cardholder’s knowledge. The genuine
cardholder may not be aware that a fraud has been committed until they see their statement.
The idea for the e-tailing Mini-site came out of discussions at the Home Office chaired
E-tailing consultation group. The Group, which includes representatives from other
Government departments and business looked at ways to combat new crime threats from
e-tailing. A wealth of information and advice on safe internet trading already exists, and the
consultation group suggested pulling it together on the Crime Reduction Website. The new
Mini-site provides summaries of, and links to, examples of good practice in e-tailing which
have been produced by both government and business. It provides advice on buying and
selling safely on-line and contains information aimed at consumers, retailers and crime
reduction practitioners. A large amount of fraud can be prevented if consumers and retailers
take simple measures to protect themselves. Many of the publications referred to on the site
suggest steps that consumers and retailers can take to improve security and help reduce
fraud.

For further information about the mini site please contact Sue Griffiths in the Home Office Business
Crime team, 1st Floor, 85 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6PD
Tel: 020 7411 5594 E-mail: susan.griffiths@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Or visit the site at: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/etailing

8 News April 2004

 Motor Salvage Operators Regulations
Home Office, Vehicle Crime Reduction Unit
Rogue motor salvage operators are behind a
high proportion of organised car crime in
the UK. We now have the law we need to
tackle them, as successes in the City of
Salford show.
Some 78,000 stolen vehicles and up to
12,000 vehicles, which have been the
subject of insurance fraud, are believed to
enter the motor salvage industry each year.
Many are broken up to supply the lucrative
business in second hand parts or to be
given apparently legitimate identities (a
process known as “ringing”).
The scale of the problem justified
statutory regulation of the industry, which
was achieved with the Vehicles (Crime) Act
2001. The provisions of Part One of the Act
were implemented in October 2002 with
the coming into force of the Motor Salvage
Operators Regulations. These require
compulsory Local Authority registration of
any business involved in dismantling
vehicles or trading in insurance write-offs
and for motor salvage operators to pass a
“fit and proper” test before their business
is registered. The Regulations also require
operators to keep records of purchases and
sales and allow police access at any
reasonable time (without a warrant) to
inspect vehicles or records. The 2001 Act
also created a series of criminal offences.
One of the aims of the legislation was
to drive criminals out of the motor salvage
...the problem justified statutory regulation
“ of the industry, which was achieved with the
Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001. The provisions of
Part One of the Act were implemented in
October 2002 with the coming into force of
the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations.
April 2004
industry. Current information suggests that
around 400 operators are now registered
but more are trading illegally and it is these
businesses in particular that local
authorities and the police working together
need to target to make the legislation bite.
It can be done. Salford City Council is
one example of successful joint working,
which involved establishing protocols to
exchange information, building an
effective intelligence database on motor
salvage operators and monitoring the
movement of vehicles in their area. Here,
funding obtained from the Crime and
Disorder Reduction Partnership by Trading
Standards has financed two additional
Crime and Disorder Enforcement Officers
who effectively manage the Register.
Within weeks of their appointment, these
officers, working closely with the police,
identified two illegal operators, who have
since been arrested and a substantial
number of stolen vehicles recovered.
An update will feature in a
forthcoming edition of the Digest
The Organised Vehicle Crime Section
(OVCS) of the National Criminal
Intelligence Service (NCIS) continues to
monitor the effects of this legislation and
provides good practice advice and
assistance with implementing it.
OVCS can be contacted on Tel: 020 7238 8467
”
News 9
Pa r t n e r s h i p Wo r k i n g
10
Home Office Good Practice Seminars
Home Office Crime Reduction Centre
The Crime Reduction Centre (CRC)
co-ordinated the planning and delivery of a
series of Good Practice Seminars aimed at
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
on a range of crime reduction topics. The
aim of the seminars was to highlight good
practice in crime reduction by raising the
understanding of the issues, offering
practical solutions and promoting the
development of local structures to support
crime reduction delivery. The outputs from
the seminars can be found on the Crime
Reduction Website at:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk
Usually each seminar offered 2 keynote
addresses covering key issues in the subject
area and delegates were offered 2
workshops from a choice of 4 (each
workshop was run twice). Other seminars
have included a drama presentation with
discussion (Domestic Violence) and a panel
discussion (Partnership Working). In
Programme Topics and Dates
Subjects Date Location
Information Sharing 15.05.03 Derby
Domestic Violence 12.06.03 Manchester
Project Management & Evaluation 10.07.03 Coventry
Robbery & Street Crime 16.10.03 Bristol
Partnership Working 13.11.03 London
Violent Crime 11.12.03 Manchester
Community Engagement 15.01.04 Coventry
Problem Solving 12.02.04 Leeds
Youth Issues 11.03.04 Bristol
For more information contact: Dee Cooley, Training Team, Crime Reduction Centre,
The Hawkhills, Easingwold, York, North Yorkshire, YO61 3EG Tel: 01347 825050
E-mail: dee.cooley@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Partnership Working
addition, delegates were able to browse the
Crime Reduction Website and various
publications. The seminars also offered
ample opportunities for networking and
sharing ideas. A report of each seminar has
been placed on the Crime Reduction
Website at www.crimereduction.gov.uk/
seminars
Seminar Aims
• to examine the keys issues in the
topic area.
• to outline what is needed to deal
effectively with the topic area.
• to look at a range of tools needed to
draw together an effective policy and
strategy on the topic.
• to provide a forum for practitioners
from around the country to share
successful ideas, explore problems and
barriers to success, and learn from
each other's experience.
In 2004/2005 the format for the seminars
is changing. Instead of one day seminars,
there will be four two-day seminars. These
will be held in June, September, December
and March. The two-day seminars will
allow delegates to looks at issues in more
depth and will be based around important
single issues or themes, which show how
different approaches can be linked. The
programme will be published soon.
April 2004
 Branding
Safer Swansea

Successful partnership working involves all by the use of a simple logo. Safer Swansea
the key agencies and shows them united is about improving the quality of life for
together for a common cause. It is therefore the people of Swansea and by the partner
important that staff in all the agencies can agencies and organisations uniting under
identify with an umbrella organisation, one banner it shows business and the
which includes their agencies, such as Safer community that they are working together
Swansea. It was vital that all agencies felt to make Swansea a safer place.
that they belonged to Safer Swansea and
that it, in turn, belonged to them.
To achieve this, Safer Swansea
deliberately started marketing the
partnership and branding its image. The
importance of a brand image can be seen
on television, in the press or on
billboards because it helps to sell an
"ideal".
For Safer Swansea, a key element of
successful branding was the effective
use of a logo on as many partnership
initiatives as possible to show the
agencies and public that there was
one common identity for all. This
helped to maximise the exposure of
the message without it being
confused by too many agency
logos or crests. This helped Safer
Swansea to move away from
individual agencies trying to
gain glory but instead showed
them standing together in
good times and bad.
Use of the logo demonstrates the belief
and dedication that all the agencies have in
the partnership and their shared goals. For further Information
The brand image for Safer Swansea contact: Bryan Heard,
set the partnership free from any Safer Swansea Community Sergeant,
disillusionment or bad experiences that Partnership Office, Sketty Police Station,
some people may have had with the partner c/o Cockett Police Station, John Street,
agencies. Cockett, Swansea, SA2 0FR
The media was also crucial in Swansea Tel: 01792 562 888
and the local ‘South Wales Evening Post’ has
a fortnightly page dedicated to the
partnership and its crime reduction quality
of life issues. The Safer Swansea message
can also be heard in news articles and
campaign advertisements on the local radio
station, ‘Sound Wave’.
The Safer Swansea logo is proudly
promoted on the Fire, Police and Council
fleet vehicles, banners posters, mugs pens,
to show the importance of joint working

April 2004 Partnership Working 11

 Community Safety in Hyndburn
Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership

The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) in Hyndburn held a ‘promoting partnership

working and community safety’ event in Accrington town centre during the first week of
December 2003.
The event was organised jointly with the Equality and Diversity Unit of the National
Probation Service Lancashire (NPS) and used the unit’s newly commissioned Exhibition
Trailer to great effect. The NPS acquired the trailer as part of their ‘Access to all Areas’ project,
which was launched in August 2003. The project aims to use the trailer to reach out to those
sections of the community that are not engaging with services and to raise the profile of, and
highlight, the broad range of services offered by the NPS.
The Hyndburn CSP felt that the trailer could be used to effectively promote the work of
the partnership and pass on basic community safety information to the public. The joint
event took place in Accrington town centre during December 2003, which was a very busy
period with shoppers and therefore an ideal opportunity to attract greater numbers of the
public.
The Exhibition Trailer was positioned in a prime town centre location and a total of 18
voluntary and statutory organisations were involved in the event. The public were given
information about all the services involved and promotional gifts were provided for young
people. The information handed out ranged from security in the home to drugs and alcohol
(including the national ‘FRANK’ campaign information leaflets).
During the five days, the event attracted almost two thousand people and all involved
considered it to be a great success. The event highlighted the potential of ‘going out’ to the
community and further events are being planned by the CSP in other locations in the
borough.
The feedback received from the public has also been very positive. It provided an
opportunity for them to ask questions about what the CSP was doing in reducing crime and
talk about issues affecting them in their neighbourhoods.
The co-ordination of this initiative is a good example of effective partnership working
between different agencies and the CSP demonstrating how working together can make
Hyndburn a safer place to live, work and visit.

For further information contact P.C. Richard Green, Partnership Officer, Hyndburn First, Suite 16, The
Globe Centre, Accrington, BB5 ORE.
Tel: 01254 600640 E-mail: richard.green@hyndburnfirst.co.uk

12 Partnership Working April 2004

 I d e a s a n d I n i t i a t i ve s
Avon & Somerset puts Bristol’s students
in space
Avon & Somerset Constabulary

Avon & Somerset Constabulary has teamed
up with a Bristol storage provider “Spaces
personal Storage” to offer students in the
city storage facilities for their possessions
over the holiday periods.
As part of the Student Crime Reduction
Initiative the scheme has been running
since summer 2003. The aim of the scheme
is to reduce the number of students who
become victims of crime by providing
education and advice on how to protect
their belongings.
Students who sign up for the scheme
are charged depending on the amount of
goods to be stored. Arrangements are then
made to collect their possessions and
provide secure storage for the requested
period of time.
For more information contact: Heather Thomas,
Student Crime Reduction Co-ordinator, Avon and
Somerset Constabulary, University of Bristol,
Security Offices, Royal Fort Lodge,
Tyndall Avenue, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1UH
Tel: 0117 331 1187
E-mail: heather.thomas@bristol.ac.uk

HRH the Princess Royal Presents

International Community Justice Awards
National Probation Service

Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal presented the International Community Justice
Awards during Probation 2004, an international 3 day conference hosted by the National
Probation Service for England and Wales. Innovation and best practice in probation work
around the world were honoured by the Princess with the presentation of awards.
Probation 2004 was held, from 28 - 30 Jan 2004 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference
Centre in London. Its focus was the future of crime and punishment in different countries
and an exploration of the best ways of reducing re-offending, cutting crime and reducing its
impact on victims and society.
The winners and runners-up included 9 individuals and 10 organisations, representing
probation work in the UK, Europe, Australasia and Africa.
Awards were made in 10 different categories:
• pioneer individual
• pioneer organisation
• outstanding administrative worker
• outstanding supporting role
• outstanding manager
• outstanding campaigner
• breaking new ground
• social inclusion
• public protection
• persistent offending.

Pioneer awards went to Lesotho,UK, Bulgaria and Estonia.

For more information on the International Community Justice Awards visit the National Probation
Service Website - www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk

April 2004 Ideas and Initiatives 13

 Car Thefts reduced due to pioneering
scheme helping motorists at risk
Sunderland Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

A Government funded scheme handing out
free car locks to at risk motorists is reaping
For more information contact rewards with support from the Sunderland
Alan Mitchell, Community Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.
Safety Co-ordinator, The initiative targeted the owners of cars
City Of Sunderland, registered between 1990-1995, which are
PO Box 100, Civic Centre, deemed most at risk of being stolen and is
Sunderland, SR2 7DN centred in the Millfield area of Sunderland.
Tel: 0191 553 1149 A grant of £12,500 from the
E-mail: alan.mitchell Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) paid
@sunderland.gov.uk for 480 locks to be handed out to motorists
in Millfield. Latest police figures are
reporting that the number of thefts of
vehicles in the area is down by a significant
26.5 % in comparison to last year figures.
Research shows that older vehicles are
most at risk of being stolen because they do
not have the security devices that are built
into newer cars on the market.
A similar scheme in Southwick led to a
48% reduction in the theft of vehicles.

Domestic Violence Alarms

South Division Lincolnshire Police and Local Authority Care Centre -
South Kesteven District Council

For more information contact:
Keith Weightman, Lincolnshire
Police, South Division
Headquarters, St Catherine’s
Road, Grantham, NG31 9DD
Tel: 01476 403 332
Fax: 01476 403 229
Lincolnshire Police, in partnership with the local authority, introduced a pilot scheme in
2003 to fit and install alarms to provide reassurance as well as evidence gathering to victims
of domestic violence. Initially, the system was introduced to provide help for elderly people
living alone but, through partnership agreement, funds were forwarded to the local authority
to provide this facility for victims of domestic violence as well.
The Local Authority Care Centre fit telephone alarms operated by a panic button worn
around the neck or on the phone itself, fitted with a loud speaker, which when activated,
opens up a direct line of communication between the care centre and the client.
During 2003 there were 68 alarms installed for domestic violence reassurance, bogus
officials and witness protection. The alarms are installed for six weeks following the incident,
the scheme has proved so successful that further funding is being allocated for 2004.

Tackling Beauty Spot & Rural Car Park

Crime
Sussex Police

The Community Safety department of Environmental Design (CPTED)as well as

Sussex Police has produced a new leaflet
on tackling beauty spot and rural car
park crime.
Aimed at authorities who manage
rural car parks and police managers, the
leaflet outlines the principles of
Crime Prevention Through
more traditional methods. The importance
of boundary treatment is discussed,
together with barrier types, natural
surveillance and the introduction of capable
guardians. Several police initiatives are also
detailed.
For further information and a copy of this leaflet
contact: Martin Garrad, Crime Prevention Design
Adviser, Community Safety Department, New
Town, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5DL
Tel: 01444 445 893
E-mail: martin.garrad@sussex.police.uk

14 Ideas and Initiatives April 2004

 Change for the Better
Leeds Community Safety Partnership

The Change for the Better initiative run by the Leeds Community Safety Partnership aims to
reduce the number of beggars on the City’s streets. The public are urged not to give money to
beggars and are encouraged to use the new specially designed donation boxes located in key
places around the city.
Since its launch in October 2003, thirteen boxes have been sited at a variety of city
centre locations, three further boxes are scheduled to be installed including one at one of the
city’s hospitals. Plans are to locate further boxes at begging “hot spots” such as near to
automatic cash machines.
Street Wardens empty the boxes every week. The total collected up to January 2004 was
£883 . 07. The funds are being managed by Leeds Voice who make grants to local charities
working with homeless people.
The initiative was launched with a hard-hitting radio and poster campaign and For further information contact
information was given to all council employees with their wage slips. Plans are being Louise Hackett, Street Users
developed to follow the initial publicity campaign with a series of bus shelter adverts Strategic Coordinator, Leeds
throughout 2004. Recent feedback indicated that some people were unsure what the boxes Community Safety,
are for. To address this, posters explaining the scheme have been fixed above the boxes. Leeming House, Vicar Lane,
Leeds Community Safety Partnership recognises that there is no “quick fix” to the Leeds, LS2 7JF
problem of begging and that a co-ordinated, long-term approach is necessary. The Change for Tel: 0113 395 0821
the Better scheme forms part of the overall approach to addressing the issue and a strategic E-mail:
framework for addressing Street User Issues is being developed. louise.hackett@leeds.gov.uk

Eagles Soaring to Slam Dunk Crime

Castle Morpeth Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership & Positive Futures

Budding young basketball players have help of Newcastle Eagles Basketball

been fighting for the chance to compete in
a major tournament at the Telewest Arena in
front of a 2000 strong crowd, thanks to an
innovative crime-fighting scheme.
Hundreds of young people in
Northumberland were given the chance-of-
a-lifetime to train with the Newcastle
Eagles and play in a major tournament
thanks to Positive Futures, a scheme from
the Castle Morpeth Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnership.
Aimed at 10-19 year olds, Positive
Futures is a partnership between the Home
Office, Sport England and the Youth Justice
Board. Covering targeted wards in Castle
Morpeth, Wansbeck, Blyth and Alnwick the
scheme worked on the ethos that sport
takes kids from the streets while boosting
self-worth and steering them away from
crime.
Positive Futures also aims to tackle
drug and alcohol abuse while urging
youngsters to say no to smoking in a bid to
persuade them to adopt healthier lifestyles.
The 2004 Coalfield Basketball School’s
League has just been launched with the
player/coach Fab Flournoy, who visited the
schools to urge young people to take part.
Exceeding all expectations more than
200 children turned up at the first session
in Amble. These included young people
referred from the Youth Offending Team
and Police, who were deemed most at risk
of becoming involved in crime.
The young basketball players formed
teams to compete in four events early in the
New Year. Games were held throughout
February and March culminating in the
grand final on March 26 at the Telewest
Arena in Newcastle. Each participant For more information contact
received a certificate signed by Newcastle Joanne Hand, Positive Futures,
Eagles and the top teams presented with Castle Morpeth Borough
medals and trophies. Council, The Kylins, Morpeth,
Figures released by the Home Office Northumberland, NE61 2EX,
this summer showed a significant drop in Tel: 01670 535 189
crime in Castle Morpeth. The figures, E-mail: joanne.hand
which compare crime levels from April 1 to @castlemorpeth.gov.uk
June 30 2002 with the same period for Or
2003 show that the number of domestic Andrew Tunnah,
burglaries is down by 45 %, vehicle crime Positive Futures Co-ordinator
is down by 16 % and overall crime is down E-mail: andrew.tunnah
by 14 %. @castlemorpeth.gov.uk

April 2004 Ideas and Initiatives 15

 Operation Eskell
West Midlands Police

For further information contact
Sgt Karl Fryer, Community
Safety Bureau, Wednesfield
Police Station,
West Midlands Police,
Wolverhampton, WV11 1XU
Tel: 0845 113 5000 ext 6576
E-mail: k.fryer
@west-midlands.police.uk
Operation Eskell started in September 2002 in response to burglary dwelling house offences
in the Wolverhampton East Operation Command Unit (OCU)- West Midlands Police.
The operation set out to reduce the offences using a targeted approach, in line with the
National Intelligence Model, and later fell in line with the force initiative Operation Safer
Homes.
A crime reduction officer visited every victim of burglary dwelling and, because the
OCU crime reduction officer was not able to visit every house because of other work, three
police constables have been trained and seconded to ‘Eskell’. Working on a rota, their role is
to visit every burglary dwelling offence at the original report stage, where this was not
possible, visits were made as soon as possible. The first step is to begin the investigation,
preserving the scene, recording the incident and taking statements.
Then a crime reduction survey is carried out on the attacked premises to identify any
other weaknesses in security. The officers leave a contact number so that the injured party can
make contact to arrange for Smart water property marking of new items, digital
photographs of property can also be taken.
The crime reduction officer makes house to house enquiries and gives security advice packs
to neighbours. Any intelligence gained from these visits is recorded onto the force
information management system.
Where premises are owned by social landlords the relevant agency is contacted to carry
out repairs to an agreed standard set out by the OCU crime reduction officer. If the victim is
considered to be vulnerable, either by age or behaviour, then a referral is also made to the
relevant agencies
Working in partnership with the Local Authority a number of Care Link alarms have been
purchased. These are installed in attacked premises by the local authority on the request of
the officer. These alarms are monitored at the City Council’s 24 hour control room and on
activation the police respond in accordance with force policy. A WC 202 supplementary
crime report has been adapted so that all of the above investigations can be monitored.
As a result of this operation and targeted patrols there has been a reduction of 18% in
repeat victims and the average rate has dropped to 10.7%.

Phone Centre is tackling crime and fear of

crime for senior citizens
Aberdeen Safer Community Trust

For further information
contact Louise Beattie,
Senior Citizen’s Assistance
Network Call Centre, The
Former Police Office, Pennan
Road, Tillydrone, Aberdeen,
AB24 2UA
Tel: 01224 495 252
E-mail: scan@absafe.org.uk or
contact Dougie Duthie,
Aberdeen Safer Community
Trust, Room SG19, Aberdeen
College, Gallowgate Centre,
Aberdeen, AB25 1BN
Tel: 01224 646 461
Fax: 01224 646 353
E-mail: info@absafe.org.uk
Distraction theft, bogus workmen and
harassment are just a few of the challenges
that elderly people may have to face in their
homes. A call centre in Aberdeen is tackling
this problem by making it easier for them
to get help. Irrespective of the problem, the
senior citizens of Aberdeen are encouraged
to telephone a local number where
volunteers talk to them and help resolve the
difficulty. Call centre staff have access to an
ever-increasing database that currently
holds details of over 175 agencies and
organisations. Many perform different
functions. Often multiple agencies are
involved. The scheme, which was
introduced in early 2003 means that senior
citizens are able to check out visitors with
just one telephone call, details of the
number are displayed on the handset of a
telephone in the form of a sticker. The
success of the scheme has meant that the
centre are looking to develop a “buddy”
system. Elderly people who live alone, or
who have no readily
available advice, can
contact the centre to call
on a “buddy” to check out
any issues of concern such
as changing utility
suppliers or when asked
to sign anything.

16 Ideas and Initiatives April 2004

 Leeds Distraction Burglary Community
Initiative
The Leeds Distraction Burglary Community Enabling older people to feel safer in
Initiative (LDBCI) was formally launched their homes
by Paul Truswell MP in January 2004. This The aim is to reduce the fear of crime and
Initiative is the second phase of a project equip older people with the knowledge and
started over three years ago. The first Leeds skills to prevent them becoming a victim of
Distraction Burglary project was funded by distraction burglary by:
the Home Office and adopted a multi- • Delivering confidence
agency approach to raising awareness of the building sessions on
crime and keeping older people safer in how to deal with
their homes. unwanted callers
This new project, funded by the • Providing a range of
Community Fund, aims to build on the security equipment to
success of the first Initiative by continuing vulnerable older
to raise the profile of the dangers of people
distraction burglary and to enable older • Ensuring that victims
people to feel safer in their own homes. receive the necessary
aftercare and support
Raising the profile of distraction
burglary LDBCI will work in partnership with For more information, please
The aim is to raise awareness of this crime local and city-wide agencies to encourage contact Laura Sanders,
by delivering Distraction Burglary training people of all ages to take responsibility for Co-ordinator, Leeds Distraction
and information sessions to: improving community safety. It is hoped Burglary Community Initiative,
• Older people that these partners will help to reinforce 32 The Garth, Saxton Gardens,
• Voluntary and statutory agencies the key messages and will encourage those Leeds, LS9 8HP
working with older people in their community to look out for their Tel: 0113 243 6511
• Housing providers vulnerable neighbours. Fax: 0113 243 6755
• Health and social care professionals Email: info@ldbci.org.uk

Vehicle Crime Prevention Letter Scheme

Norfolk Constabulary

During November and December 2003 Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers
(PCSO’s) and Traffic Wardens have been making a note of vehicle registration numbers in
vehicle crime hotspots. Those targeted had left property on display and provided an
opportunity for thieves.
Each officer was issued with a pad, which they completed and handed in. A Police
National Computer check was then carried out to find out the registered owners address and
a letter, Home Office Car Crime leaflet and rear mirror hanger were sent to the owner.
In total 140 letters were issued. The response from the public was encouraging with a
number of people contacting the force to express their gratitude for the warning.

For more information contact PC Pat Bailey, Norfolk Constabulary, Police Station Howard Street North,
Norfolk, NR30 1PH. Tel: 01493 333 039 E-mail: Baileype@norfolk.pnn.police.uk

...vehicle crime hotspots. Those targeted

“ had left property on display...
”
April 2004 Ideas and Initiatives 17
 Safer Homes Initiative
Thames Valley Police

Thames Valley Police, in partnership with Cherwell District Council, organised a ‘Safer
Homes’ weekend, which took place over the 21st and 22nd February 2004.
The aim of the weekend was to raise awareness and offer Home security advice to
residents on two Banbury housing estates that show slightly higher crime than in
neighbouring areas.
The Crime Reduction Unit and Cherwell District Council were successful in bids to both
Government Office South East and the Neighbourhood Renewal scheme for funding to
support the initiative.
Various personnel including Street Wardens, Special Constables, Police Community
Support Officers, representatives from Neighbourhood Watch, Beat Officers and Crime
Reduction Advisors supported the two day initiative. The Fire Service was also in attendance
to fit and test smoke alarms where requested.
Over 470 homes were surveyed, which involved looking at the home through the eyes of
an opportunist burglar. A copy of the results of the survey was given to the householder
along with a ‘Coded for keeps’ leaflet, a property post coded sticker and a bookmark with
the new Thames Valley police telephone number and burglary prevention advice.
Each householder received general crime reduction recommendations, advice on using a
door chain and checks were carried out on smoke alarms. Both of which were offered free of
charge if not already fitted. The residents were asked to visit the mobile police station to
collect their free bag, which contained items including a key ring, ruler, sticker, tax disc
holder, windscreen scraper and uv marker pen. All the items were marked with the street
warden’s contact details.
There were also a number of enquiries from the public
requesting details on setting up new Neighbourhood Watch
Schemes.
The Officers involved have expressed an interest in
conducting further surveys in neighbouring roads.

For further information contact: Jayne Taylor, Crime Reduction Advisor (Banbury Sector of Northern
Oxfordshire), Banbury Police Station, Thames Valley Police, Warwick Road, Banbury, OX16 2AE
Tel: 01295 754587 E-mail: Jayne.Taylor@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Enhancing Police and Private Security

Visibility Within the West End of London
Metropolitan Police, Oxford Street Association & New West End Company

London’s West End has the largest
concentration of retail premises in Europe
and Oxford Street is certainly the busiest
area for the Marylebone Police Division in
the Metropolitan Police. With the specific
aim of increasing visible uniform presence
within the area, a partnership was formed
between the Police, the Oxford Street
Association and New West End Company (a
voluntary Business Improvement District).
The partnership decided that the best
way of increasing uniform visibility was to
raise the officers above the height of the
crowd enabling them to see the pedestrian
traffic from above and giving them a better
view over the surrounding area. This also
meant that the local community would
have a highly visible uniform presence.
After becoming aware of a similar
project being undertaken in the Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea, the partnership
provided funding for the construction and
purchase of two transportable visibility
platforms with the specific intention of
using them at key locations in the area. The
‘visibility platforms’, designed and
manufactured by Peerless Designs, a
London-based company specialising in
bespoke engineering projects, became
operational on 22 January 2004.

18 Ideas and Initiatives April 2004

 Police Community Support Officers in
partnership with New West End Company
Street Wardens, the ‘Red Caps’, use the
platforms every day at key locations. All
units using the platforms have direct radio
contact with the local CCTV control room,
which monitors their activities during the
hours of operation.
The feedback from the public and
business community has been very
positive, with local businesses agreeing to
store the platforms overnight to make
transportation easier. Members of the
public have approached officers using the
platforms to say that they like the fact that
officers can now be seen and that they do
feel reassured to see them on the street.
Although it is early days, so far the
visibility platforms have proved extremely
successful in a very challenging
environment. Increasing the visibility and
surveillance capacity of uniformed officers
has been achieved together with a high
degree of criminal deterrent and a
reduction in the fear of crime.
Since becoming operational, street
robbery and ‘snatches’ have fallen by 90%
for crimes committed on Oxford Street,
compared to the same period last year.
For further information please contact Mark
O’Callaghan, Crime Prevention Design Advisor,
Oxford Street Sector Marylebone Police,
Metropolitan Police Tel: 020-7321-9385
E-mail: Mark.O’Callaghan@met.police.uk

Travel Safe - Taxi Stewarding Initiative

Blackpool Community Safety Partnership

...the high
“
Blackpool Community Safety Partnership has introduced a taxi stewarding scheme to tackle
violent anti-social behaviour and reduce fear of crime among partygoers in the town centre.
Registered door staff acted as stewards on the taxi rank over the Christmas and New Year
period and the weekends in between. Working in pairs, the remit of the stewards was to
visibility
provide a high visibility presence to act as a deterrent to potential situations and generally
facilitate orderly queuing.
presence of
Previously, there were numerous reports of trouble caused by queue jumping,
particularly when the weather was raining or extremely cold, especially at Christmas. To
the stewards
prevent this behaviour crush barriers were erected on the rank, which helped the stewards to
maintain orderly queues and limit the number of people rushing towards the taxis.
was a
The stewards were equipped with radios linked to the police communications room,
which allowed them to summon police assistance should the need arise. As an additional
conscious
measure, the rank was also monitored by CCTV, allowing the potential for evidence gathering
if needed.
effort to
The high visibility presence of the stewards was a conscious effort to increase feelings of
safety among the rank users, particularly lone females, and the taxi drivers themselves whom
increase
had expressed reluctance to use the rank due to the behaviour of some of the users.
The partnership approach to this initiative is highlighted by the recognition that
feelings of
safety...
”
community safety is not the sole responsibility of the police and by taking advantage of
existing partner resources, pooling funding and working with a variety of agencies, local
solutions can be found to local problems.
The initiative significantly reduced the number of violent incidents around the taxi rank.
Both the drivers and the rank users have expressed support for the scheme and requested that
it continue on a more permanent basis. The original pilot scheme has now been extended to
all bank holidays and busy periods.

For more information contact: Policy Officer Leanne Conroy, Community Safety Team
Blackpool Borough Council, PO Box 77, Town Hall, Blackpool, FY1 1AD
Tel: 01253 477115 E-mail: leanne.conroy@blackpool.gov.uk

April 2004 Ideas and Initiatives 19

Publications Protecting Children Online
Home Office

Hard hitting new radio advertising and guidelines for parents to help keep children safe on
the internet were launched by the government in January 2004.
The £3million campaign was put together as part of the work of the Government’s Task
Force on Child Protection on the internet and is part of its public awareness campaign to
protect children online.
This, the third phase of the campaign, will cost £700,000, and consist of radio, cinema
and online advertising. It will encourage children to think twice about who they might be
communicating with in chat rooms and give them practical advice to help them stay safe on
the internet and when using mobile phones.
A Home Office leaflet for parents, ‘Keep your Child Safe on the Internet’ has also been
revised and updated to include new guidance on setting up filtering and monitoring systems
on their children’s computers and ‘jargon busters’ to help them talk to their children more
about the internet.

For more information visit the website www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Think Thief - A Designer’s Guide to

Designing Out Crime
Home Office & Design Council

In December the Home Office announced the launch of a new information and training
package aimed at design practitioners. ‘Think Thief - A Designers Guide to Designing Out
Crime’ is a joint venture between the Home Office and the Design Council to provide
support material for design professionals to promote the practical application of design
against crime.
The framework and content was determined by the Design Council, Home Office,
Design Business Association, British Fashion Council, Department of Trade and Industry and
design professionals. It includes information on:
• the definition and history of designing out crime
• 10 tools and techniques for designers to consider when designing out crime
• business drivers for designing out crime.

Copies are available to down load from: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/business32.pdf

‘Cannabis is STILL Illegal’

Metropolitan Police Service

The Metropolitan Police have produced a poster warning that Cannabis is still illegal. The
poster, supported by Barking & Dagenham Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, was
produced in response to the recent reclassification of cannabis. It aims to educate, inform and
publicise the fact that following the changes in legislation, cannabis is still against the law.
The objective was to produce a poster that could be displayed in licensed premises to
give landlords something to refer to when advising customers not to smoke cannabis. The
posters have also been displayed in public areas and student venues.
Initially 750 posters were printed but following its success another print run is now
under way.

For further information contact: Phil Peters, Community & Partnership sergeant,
Metropolitan Police, Dagenham Police Station,561 Rainham Road South, Dagenham,
Essex RM10 7TU Tel 0208 217 5642 E-mail: phil.peters@met.police.uk

20 Publications April 2004

 Frank Action Update - Cannabis
Home Office, Department of Health and Department for Education and Skill

On the 29th January 2004, cannabis was
reclassified from a Class B to Class C drug. A
special edition of the FRANK Action Update
was produced to give background
information on the issues surrounding this
change in the law. The change is also being
supported by the introduction of two new
leaflets:
• ‘Drugs- What the law says’ - explains
the different classes of drugs and the
penalties related to each class.
• ‘Young Peoples Cannabis’- targets
under 18’s and is used to inform
young people about the changes in the
law and to reinforce the message that
cannabis is still illegal and harmful.
Both leaflets are available to download
at the following website:
www.drugs.gov.uk/nationalstrategy/
cannabisreclassification
Hard copies of these and the FRANK Action
Update pack can be obtained by contacting the
Department of Health. Tel: 08701 555 455
or E-mail: doh@prolog.uk.com quoting the
product reference code.
• FRANK Action Update - Cannabis
(Ref. 34331)
• Drugs - What the law says -(Ref. 34102)
• Young Peoples Cannabis - (Ref. 34104)
The FRANK campaign team can be contacted at:
frank@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0207 273 3833

In the Bag
Design Council, Home Office and The London Institute

‘In the Bag’ is a CD-ROM created by Dr. Lorraine Gamman, Project Research Director at
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, which offers a web linked design resource.
Its purpose is to help designers to get smart quickly about the issues and the wider social
implications of a design project. In the design process, there is no good reason not to address
abusers at the same time as users. The resource is aimed primarily at designers but may also
be of interest to anyone working in crime prevention and designing out crime. Although the
information focuses on design against crime related to bag theft, pickpocketing and street
crime, the lessons learned can be applied across many related design areas.
The CD ROM includes information on:
• hot personal products and design case studies
• perpetrator techniques
• crime resistant products
• illustrated principles of crime prevention with reference to design
• anti-theft and anti-abuser projects - featuring voices of designers on methods,
process and practice
• takeaway ‘Design Against Crime’ briefs
• full bibliography and research references.

The disk features ‘Stop Thief’ chairs and anti-theft bags, which illustrate that, with the
right information, designers can make their products not only sexy, friendly and easy to use
but also crime resistant.
‘In The Bag’ also includes ‘Less Crime, by Design’, a lecture given to Royal Society of Arts
by Dr. Paul Ekblom of the Home Office
The project is supported by the Design Council, Home Office and The London Institute.

Copies of the CD ROM are available, free of charge, from the Information Services Team, Home Office
Crime Reduction Centre, Easingwold, York YO61 3EG.
Fax: 01347 825097 or e-mail: crc@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Copies are now back in stock, following unprecedented demand over the summer.

April 2004 Publications 21

 Police Officers Guide to Ultraviolet
Security Markings
Hampshire Constabulary

A joint venture between Hampshire

Constabulary and the Royal Military Police
has led to the production of a Police
Officers Guide to Ultraviolet Security
Markings. A copy of the guide together
with an A3 poster has been issued to
Hampshire Police Officers and the
Royal Military Police Officers in the South
West Area.
The concept was borne from the fact
that although many officers were aware of
the use of UV light as a crime reduction
measure, they were not necessarily familiar Copies of this guide are available from:
with it’s other benefits. It is envisaged that Malcolm Wilton, Force Crime Reduction
this initiative will give officers an Co-ordinator, Hampshire Constabulary, Police
understanding of the counter fraud Headquarters, West Hill, Romsey Road,
measures that can assist them in their Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5DB
operational work. UV lights can be used in Tel: 01962 871 082
property marking, driving documents, or E-mail:
credit cards, bank notes and ID Cards and malcolm.wilton@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
passports.

Forensic Psychology: Concepts, debates

and practice
Edited by Joanna R. Adler

This book brings together a team of authorities in the field of forensic psychology to
demonstrate the scope of the discipline and the techniques employed in key areas of
research, policy and practice.
It aims to challenge perceptions and raise questions for research, pose problems for
practice and inspire and stimulate, demonstrating the ways in which forensic psychology can
aid the practice of criminal justice.
‘Forensic Psychology: Concepts, debates and practice’ is
divided into seven sections including ,investigation and
prosecution, testimony and evidence, persistent offending
and punishment and corrections. The contributors
include both academics and practitioners, and are
drawn for the UK, USA and Australasia.

Copies of this book, published in January 2004 and

priced at £40.00 (hardback) can be obtained from
Willan Publishing, Culmcott House, Mill Street,
Uffculme, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 3AT
Tel: 01884 840 337 Fax: 01884 840251
E-mail: info@willanpublishing.co.uk or visit their
website: www.willanpublishing.co.uk

22 Publications April 2004

 ‘Watch Over Me’
Milly’s Fund

Milly's Fund was established by Bob and Sally Dowler in memory of their 13 year old
daughter, Milly, who was abducted and murdered on her way home from school in March
2002. With overwhelming public support, the charity has made a major contribution to
personal safety for young people in Britain by developing a unique teenage soap opera for
use in schools.
"Watch Over Me" is a 'soap' based drama with five episodes following the lives of a
group of teenagers facing the worries and risks of everyday life. Each episode can be used in
the classroom to help young people learn how to express and understand their feelings and
develop their own strategies for dealing with personal safety. The charity also produced a
film to guide teachers in ways of exploring personal safety issues which are linked to the
curriculum. These materials were sent free to every secondary school in England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland by Milly's Fund.
The project was supported by Education Secretary Charles Clarke and Home Secretary,
David Blunkett. 'Watch over me' was launched at the House of Commons in June 2003.
As well as being very useful for teachers, it is hoped that this resource can be used
by police officers including school liaison officers, youth affairs officers or community
officers etc.
In October 2003 'Milly's Fund' launched a campaign
called 'Teach UR Mum 2 TXT'. The thinking behind the
idea was that it is an unobtrusive way for parents and
children to stay in touch therefore offering a sense of
security to both parties. Regional roadshows,
supported by O2, were held across the country.
Milly's Fund has distributed thousands of free
booklets containing safety tips to many schools,
clubs, hospitals and members of the public.

These materials can be obtained from: Milly's fund,

Case House, 85-89 High Street, Walton on Thames,
Surrey, KT121DZ Tel: 01932 235999 E-mail:
millysfund@elmbridgehousing.org.uk
www.millysfund.org.uk

The 'Watch Over Me' pack costs £35 and

includes a pupil video, a teacher video and a
informative user friendly book. The Teach
Ur Mum 2 TXT booklets are free of charge
but contributions towards postage are
requested.

April 2004 Publications 23

Re s e a r c h Violence at Home
HM Inspectorate of Constabularies & HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

A study by the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) inspectorates has made a
number of recommendations to improve the way in which their organisations deal with
domestic violence. The inspections looked in particular at:
• current police policy and practice and investigative quality
• working relationships between the Police and CPS, and liaison with local domestic
violence organisations, focusing especially on measures that could increase the number
of offenders brought to justice for domestic violence
• the care and treatment of victims and witnesses
• the extent and causes of attrition
• the application of the revised CPS Policy and accompanying Guidance, the Code for
Crown Prosecutors and any relevant charging standards.

The report found that typically there was a 50% dropout rate at every stage of the process
from recording a crime incident to achieving a successful prosecution:
• Roughly half of domestic violence incidents where police were called generated a
crime report.
• Charges were brought for about half these crime reports.
• Around half of those charged were convicted.

It should be pointed out that in some cases the positive action brought about by
engaging a formal procedure may have stopped or prevented violence to the satisfaction of
the victim who did not then want to pursue the matter further.
The study also recognised the damage that can be done to children in a home where one
carer is a victim of domestic violence, especially where the violence is witnessed by a child.

Recommendations
The report's recommendations are largely strategic and some are included here. The full
list of recommendations and action points can be found in the executive summary and the
full report.
Police
• Ensure that systems are in place to flag domestic violence incidents.
• Monitor and review domestic violence policy.
• Revisit standards of investigation in the light of the review.
• Review Domestic Violence Officer's role and job description.
• Agree informal information sharing protocols with social services.
Police & CPS
• Enter into formal agreement on background information to be provided in DV cases.
• Police include details of the effects of the domestic violence upon children in
prosecution files.
• Take action on breaches of bail.
• Offer victims the chance to make a victim's personal statement.
CPS
• Review systems for identifying and highlighting domestic violence cases.
• Inform the victim of bail decisions straight away.
• Produce a template for area domestic violence co-ordinators.
• Produce a national domestic violence training package.

The report is available from the Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate website. Due to
its size it has been broken into a main report and appendices. An executive summary is also available.
View HMCPSI Publications on the HMCPSI website: www.hmcpsi.gov.uk/reports/jointins.shtml
In addition to the report, a literature review was published at the same time. This can also be found on
the same website.

24 Research April 2004

 Quarterly Crime Statistics: January 2004
Home Office

The Government publishes new crime
statistics each quarter. The figures for the
year to September 2003 show that overall
crime has remained fairly stable, but that
there have been significant increases in
violent crime.
Title: Crime in England and Wales:
Quarterly Update to September 2003
Authors: Anna Upson and Martin Wood
Number of pages: 10 (with supplements of
62 pages and 90 pages)
Date published: January 2004
The latest set of figures has been
presented as 3 volumes. There is a short
introductory section that outlines the main
statistics in a 10 page briefing. This is
supported by a 62 page supplementary
volume on homicide and gun crime, and a
90 page supplement on public attitude and
perceptions. Each of these volumes can be
downloaded from the website address at
the bottom of this page.
Main Points
• Overall levels of crime have
remained stable.
• There were 3% fewer crimes of
violence according to the British Crime
Survey (BCS) in the 12 months to
September 2003, compared with a
year earlier.
• Recorded violence against the person
rose by 17% (including an 18%
increase in more serious violence). This
may be due, in part, to the continuing
effects of the introduction of the
National Crime Recording Standard.
• BCS figures show that levels of
domestic burglary are 2% lower than
the previous year, although this fall is
not statistically significant. Recorded
crime figures show a fall of 3%.
• Vehicle thefts have continued to fall
steadily, decreasing by 5% according to
the BCS and by 8% in police statistics.
• Levels of worry about violence and car
crime have fallen compared with the
previous year, as has the overall level of
perceived anti-social behaviour.
• Levels of confidence in the criminal
justice system (CJS) generally
remained stable, although there were
some very small decreases.
• The risk of being a victim of crime
(27%) is around the same as it was
in 1981.
Full details are available from the Home Office
Research Development and Statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds

Alcohol audits, strategies and initiatives:

lessons from Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnerships. Home Office Development
and Practice Report
Richardson, A., Nicholls, M. and Finney, A. (2004)
Home Office

This study explores how alcohol-related crime and disorder is identified, prioritised and
tackled at local level. It examined all available CDRP second round audit and strategy
documents for references to alcohol-related crime and disorder to uncover the extent of
awareness and interest CDRPs have in tackling such issues. The findings were supported by a Further information can be
series of case studies describing innovative local initiatives set up to address alcohol-related found at the following website
crime and disorder problems. These case studies highlight the challenges faced by CDRPs address:
and offer possible solutions and learning points for others wishing to address similar www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
problems in their own area. rds/pdfs2/dpr20.pdf

April 2004 Research 25

 Alcohol and violence Findings
Finney, A. (2004), Home Office

A series of three 'Findings' have been produced, which summarise international research
evidence on the relationship between alcohol consumption and violent crime. These Findings
cover violence in the night-time economy; alcohol-related sexual violence and alcohol-
related intimate partner violence. Each document describes what is known about all aspects
of violent crime including the location, time, characteristics of offenders and victims and the
nature of the violence itself. A summary of the theory behind alcohol's relationship with
offending is also provided.

Alcohol and violence: violence in the night-time economy. Home Office Research
Findings.
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r214.pdf

Alcohol and violence: sexual violence. Home Office Research Findings.

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r215.pdf

Alcohol and violence: intimate partner violence. Home Office Research Findings.
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r216.pdf

These publications should be available from mid March 2004 from Research & Development Statistics:
RDS Communications Development Unit, Room 264, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne's Gate,
London, SW1H 9AT
Telephone: 020 7273 2084 Fax: 020 7222 0211
Email: publications.rds@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds

Crime Reduction Programme: An

Evaluation of Community Service
Pathfinders Project Final Report 2002
Home Office - RDS Occasional Paper No 87

Community Service Pathfinders projects Copies of report published in 2003 are available
were set up by the National Probation free from the Research Development and
Directorate under the Crime Reduction Statistics Directorate (RDS),
Programme in 1999. They were a series of Communities Development Unit,
interrelated projects set up to pilot specific Room 264, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne’s Gate,
elements of community punishment. London, SW1H 9AT
This report looks at the way the service Tel: 0207 273 2084
delivered specific elements of community Fax: 0207 222 0211
punishment by examining the process of E-mail: publications.rds@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
implementation and the views of those that
provide and receive community
punishment. It also includes interim
outcome measures of effectiveness and
cost. The Pathfinders have provided
important information in the development
of enhanced community punishment.

26 Research April 2004

 Drugs, Young People and Service Provision
Nacro
This January 2004 publication from Nacro
presents the main findings of 'Drugs, Young
People and Service Provision' research on
behalf of the Birmingham Drug Action
Team. The report considers substance-
related services that address young people's
needs and evaluates their performance.
The research focused on 2 areas:
• young people's attitudes towards drugs
and alcohol
• an evaluation of services already in
place to provide education,
counselling, and treatment for
substance abuse.
The young people researched were up
to 25 years old. The report analyses the
prevalence and patterns of drug abuse,
young people's attitudes toward drug abuse
and the need for information.
The report analyses how problematic
drug use is best addressed through
examining the surrounding issues such as
their environment, family/peer relation-
ships and background education. It also
evaluates the additional pressures put upon
specific groups such as the homeless and
ethnic minorities.
Key Findings
• 35% of young people aged 14 - 16
years reported ever having used an
illegal substance. 25% reported using a
drug in the last month,
overwhelmingly cannabis.
• Young people's attitudes towards drug
use were complex, generally being
anti-drug use but tolerant of drug
users among their peers.
• Young people who had developed
problematic drug use described an
intricate relationship between drug use
and their family, peers and
homelessness, education and
criminal behaviour.
April 2004
• Agency support was shown to be
important in supporting young
people's own motivations to desist
from problematic substance abuse
• Most education about substance abuse
is centred around schools and there is
little available for those young people
who do not attend school.
• Those working with populations likely
to include problematic drug users
would like more intensive training
than is currently available
• Rough sleepers are less likely to access
services, as are young women with
children
• There is less provision at the intensive
treatment level and waiting lists tend to
be long.
Implications
• Agencies must be sensitive to the
varied needs of clients, including
ethnic minorities, young women with
children and homeless people.
• Drugs education and treatment should
be targeted at temporary
accommodation for homeless
young people.
• Drug Action Teams can undertake a
range of activities to support service
development, including disseminating
service information and developing
interagency protocols and strategies.
For more information on the report 'Drugs,
Young People and Service Provision', contact
Nacro, Research and Evaluation, 159 Clapham
Road, London, SW9 0PU Tel: 0207 840 6495
Fax: 0207 840 6419 or visit their website:
www.nacro.org.uk
Research 27
 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
addressing anti-social behaviour in the
London Borough of Islington
Home Office

This publication, by the Research Development Statistics (RDS) Directorate, contains findings
from a scheme based in the London Borough of Islington designed to reduce anti-social
behaviour using Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) over 2 periods, January 1999 to
October 2000 and May 2001 to December 2001. It also examines the subsequent use of ABCs
in England and Wales.
ABCs are written agreements between a young person, the local housing office or
Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and the local police in which the young person agrees not
to carry out a series of identifiable behaviours that have been defined as anti-social. These
contracts are primarily aimed at young people aged between 10 and 18.
The research shows that ABCs have been a popular way of addressing anti-social
behaviour in Islington and can reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour committed by
young people for the duration of the contract. The evaluation in Islington found that young
people on ABCs were less likely to engage in anti-social behaviour, less likely to be stopped or
arrested by the police and less likely to commit criminal acts.
Increasingly, anti-social behaviour has become a matter of public concern, which is
reflected in recent government legislation. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 introduced
Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to protect the public from behaviour that causes or is
likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The report is available online only and can be downloaded from the Home Office Research and
Development Statistics website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds
Ta l k i n g S h o p

Jason Roach, criminologist and trainer at the Crime Reduction Centre

talks shop...

‘Best’ Practice? Finding your way

through the fog
What do we mean by ‘best’ or ‘good’ practice and how do we know what it looks like?
The terms 'good' and 'best' practice are bandied around the field of crime reduction and
are often used synonymously and without a shared understanding of what they actually
mean. I am not for one minute suggesting that there are not a lot of good crime reduction
ideas and initiatives out there - there are - it's the terms ‘best’ and ‘good’ that I feel may be
acting more as a hindrance than a help.
Generally, the terms ‘good’ and ‘best’ practice seem to relate to the outcomes of a crime
reduction initiative, that is whether it reduces the crime problem that it set out to. I argue
that there is more to crime reduction initiatives than just their outcome. Let's take two
hypothetical initiatives:
• Initiative 1 demonstrated an excellent analysis of a problem but the intended crime
reduction aim was not achieved because of problems at the response/implementation
stage, possibly as a result of ineffective partnership working.

• Initiative 2 demonstrated excellent partnership working but didn't reach the intended
outcome because of ineffective analysis.

28 Research/Talking Shop April 2004

 Neither of these initiatives would be included under our current interpretation of ‘good’
or ‘best’ practice but both display elements that can be built on and utilised by other practi-
tioners. It's likely that the practitioners involved in these initiatives would be reluctant to
spread knowledge of these smaller elements of ‘good’ practice because their initiatives did
not turn out to be runaway successes overall.
I suggest that our understanding of what ‘good’ or ‘best’ means needs to be widened to
include all the elements of an initiative and not just successful outcomes, otherwise, much
that is ‘good’ will be missed. Similarly, isn't it just as important to understand and pass on
why an initiative might not have worked so that others can avoid the problems and learn
from someone else's experiences?
With our current understanding of ‘good’ or ‘best’ practice we would surely label both
our hypothetical initiatives as ‘bad’ practice, which would understandably make practitioners
even less likely to put their heads above the parapet.
I am interested in what the terms ‘best’ and ‘good’ practice mean to you and how you
recognise them? Do you find the terms ambiguous or misleading? And what about my
concept of ‘bad’ practice? Your answers on a postcard please and we'll publish your replies in
the July edition.

E-mail Jason at: Jason.roach2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Criminology Corner
Over the past few decades any perceived gap between the ‘ivory tower’ of academia and those
on the frontline of crime reduction has closed considerably. Home Office criminologists such
as Clarke, Laycock, Tilley, Pease and Ekblom (to name but a few) have sought to demonstrate
not so much how theory can help us understand the offenders themselves (the why?) but
how theory can help us understand how crimes are committed (the how?)
In a nutshell, the theoretical emphasis has shifted to how theory can assist crime
reduction or prevention in ‘the real world’.
So why is theory important to practice in crime reduction? How can it help you as
practitioners to formulate crime reduction initiatives? Over the next year I'll introduce a
number of different theoretical models of crime reduction and we'll explore:
• how the theory relates to the real world and the evidence it's based on
• how the theory can help you to understand crime in your area
• how you can use the theory to devise and develop crime reduction initiatives in
your area

Theories of crime and crime reduction are important because they provide a useful
framework on which to build crime reduction initiatives. They offer a route map through the
plethora of crime reduction schemes and projects available, helping you to choose the most
appropriate ones for the individual crime problems in your area.
In the next Digest we'll explore Situational Crime Prevention and some of the related
theories. Please contact me with any burning theoretical issues that we can explore in the
coming months.

Theory and practice are closer than you think.

E-mail Jason at: Jason.roach2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

April 2004 Talking Shop 29

 The Digest - previous issues

January 2004
• Building Civil Renewal
• Philip Lawrence Awards
• Experimenting... with Drugs
• Take Stock of Your Lock
• Hats off to crime
• Safe and Sound in Teeside

October 2003
• Passport to Crime Reduction
• Operation Safer Travel
• Beggars given the yellow card
• Crime prevention measures for rights of way
• Identity theft: Do you know the signs?
• The new politics of crime and punishment
• The effectiveness of Neighbourhood Watch

July 2003
• Burglaries to student campus accommodation
• National evaluation of CCTV
• Secure garden quiz
• Cash point (ATM): Evaluation of 'Personal Defensible Space'
• Private hire taxi drivers' safety code
• Rizer - Youth crime reduction initiative
• Too cool 4 booz

April2003
• Communities First Golf project
• Lancsafe vehicle crime reduction project
• The Tower project
• Drug use in vulnerable groups
• Designing out crime
• Community Safety Calendar
• 40 years of the Crime Reduction Centre

You can view these previous issues and others at: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/digest.htm

30 Digest previous issues April 2004

Crime Prevention Initiatives (CPI) Form
CRC maintains a database of crime prevention initiatives, which is used as an information-sharing tool for practitioners with
enquiries for the Information Services Team. Details of initiatives or projects that are planned/ongoing/completed or have been
abandoned, are submitted using the CPI form. This information is then considered for inclusion in a future copy of the Digest and/or
the Ideas Exchange on the Crime Reduction Website.
If you know of an initiative in your area, please send details in using this form to: Richard Cox, Home Office Crime Reduction
Centre, The Hawkhills, Easingwold, York YO61 3EG Tel: 01347 825065 E-mail: richard.cox@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Alternatively
complete the form on-line via the Crime Reduction Website at: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cpiform.htm

Project Name:

Description Summary:
(the aims and objectives of the project and how it works)

Geographic Location:
National: Project Area:

County: Coverage:
e.g. specific estate, town centre

Lead Organisation:

Partners:

Contact Details:
Name(s):

Organisation:

Address:

Post Code:

Tel: Fax:

E-mail: Website:

Project Status: Planned/Ongoing/Completed/Abandoned (delete as appropriate)

Start Date: End Date:

April 2004 CPI Form 31

 Materials: Is there any material to support this initiative?
(e.g. Leaflets, video, report, handbook etc.)
Please detail and attach if possible.

Evaluation: If there is to be a later evaluation, please note here so that we can

(Is there anything follow up at a later date.
documented which gives an
indication of the success or
otherwise of the project ?
Please detail key findings and
where they came from.)

Funding:
(Funding Sources if applicable e.g. Home office, Local Authority, Business, Panel - Cash or Kind e.g. secondment/office space)

Total Cost: £
(if known)

Thank You

I agree to this information being stored on the Home Office database/website Yes No

Office Use Only:

Source: Sub:

Cat: Keyw:

D Ref:

32 CPI Form April 2004