Correspondence

Crime and policing news update: November 2013

Published 28 November 2013

1. Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme and Domestic Violence Protection Orders

On 25 November, the Home Office announced it will roll-out two initiatives to tackle domestic violence and abuse across police forces in England and Wales from March 2014.

The issue of disclosing information about an individual’s history of domestic violence to a new partner was highlighted following the murder of Clare Wood by her former partner in Greater Manchester in 2009. The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, also known as “Clare’s Law”, will allow the police to disclose to individuals details of their partners’ abusive pasts where this may protect someone from further violence. The scheme has already been running in Greater Manchester, Gwent, Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire.

Alongside the disclosure scheme, from March 2014, the police and magistrates in England and Wales will also be able to issue Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs). These can be issued where there is insufficient evidence to charge a perpetrator, and can prevent the perpetrator from returning to a residence and having contact with the victim for up to 28 days, allowing the victim some time to consider their options, with the help of a support agency. Following a pilot in the Greater Manchester, Wiltshire and West Mercia police force areas, DVPOs will be available across England and Wales from March next year.

2. This is Abuse

In early December we will launch the ‘This is Abuse’ campaign, which is targeted at 13 to 18 year old boys and girls. The campaign aims to prevent teenagers from becoming perpetrators and victims of abusive relationships by encouraging them to re-think their views of violence, abuse, controlling behaviour and what consent means within their relationships and directs them to places for help and advice.

Activity will include TV, digital and social media advertising with celebrities supporting the ‘This is Abuse’ campaign. All activity will direct the audience to a dedicated microsite on the MTV website which will house more information, interactive quizzes and links to get further help and support.

Support materials are available, free of charge, to help you support the campaign in your local area. Please email VAWGCampaigns@homeoffice.gov.uk to get a copy of the campaign brief which contains more information on the campaign, along with details on how to order the support materials.

3. Women and Girls Associated with Street Gangs – Regional Training

We know that women and girls who are associated with gangs are at risk of violence, particularly sexual violence, as well as being drawn into criminal activity.

The Home Office, working with the Youth Justice Board, Department for Education, College of Policing and Public Health England, is running a series of training events for frontline professionals on how to identify and support women and girls who are associated with gangs.

The training will cover practical issues such as identifying risk factors, safeguarding and accessing appropriate interventions, and will be delivered by specialist trainers. The events are for practitioners – such as police officers, teachers, health and youth justice staff, housing officers and social workers – who may encounter women and girls who are associated with gangs in their day-to-day work, but are not expert in the issues affecting this group.

Four training sessions will be delivered in January and February 2014, in Manchester, Nottingham and London (two sessions). Priority for registration for the events will be given to local partners from the 33 Ending Gang and Youth Violence priority areas.

To register your interest, please email: WorkingwithGirlsEvents@yjb.gsi.gov.uk. Further details of our Ending Gang and Youth Violence programme can be found here.

4. Police Innovation Fund

As set out at the Spending Round on 26 June, a Police Innovation Fund, worth up to £50 million per year, is being established from 2014/15. The Fund will incentivise collaboration, support improved digital working and enable police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to invest in a range of other innovative delivery approaches that have the potential to improve policing and deliver further efficiency.

On 14 November, the Minister of State for Policing, Damian Green announced that, ahead of the first full year of the Fund’s operation, a £20 million Precursor Fund will be made available to PCCs in 2013/14 to enable them to press ahead now with transformation in their forces. Details on the bidding process and criteria are available here.

5. Police.uk re-design

On the 7th November, the crime mapping website police.uk was re-launched with a new look.

The main improvements to the site include a clearer and simpler design, making it easier for the public to find the information they want. Visitors can now set up their own personalised crime maps and register for email alerts informing them when crime data for their area is updated. The site has now been designed so that visitors can find relevant crime prevention advice relating to the category of crime they’re viewing on the map.

Police.uk crime statistics now include data which allows the public to compare the performance of the police and courts in their area with the national average, and how the performance of the police in a local area compares with other ‘most similar’ forces.

Visitors to the site can also find information about their PCC, their neighbourhood policing team, details of upcoming beat meetings, as well crime prevention advice and how they can get involved in keeping their communities safe. It has proved popular with 58 million people visiting the website since its launch in 2011.

6. Innovative Uses of New Technology

Innovative uses of new technology by police to modernise their operations was highlighted at a recent College of Policing event.

The conference demonstrated the way that 30 forces, who have signed up as digital pathfinders, are using the latest technology to transform policing rather than just digitising analogue processes. One of the projects highlighted was Cambridge Constabulary’s Programme Metis, which is transforming the way it works by developing new technology that could be used in the future by any police force in the country.

The event was opened by Minister of State for Policing, Damian Green, and you can read his speech here. The event proved so popular that a follow-up technology and innovation fair will take place at the College of Policing Ryton site on 6 December.

7. Innovation through Collaboration, 10 December - event reminder

All police and crime commissioners (PCCs) and chief constables have been invited to this ministerially-led event at the Home Office. Replies to the invitation were due by 22 November and there has been a strong response. There is still time to reply and to provide case studies of existing collaborations to inform the event. For further information contact Raza Hussain at Raza.Hussain@homeoffice.gov.uk, or telephone 020 7035 6289.

8. News from the College of Policing

Earlier this month, the College of Policing hosted a workshop to create a five-year plan to boost diversity in policing, focussing particularly on how to attract more recruits from the black and minority ethnic (BME) community. Merseyside Superintendent Rowley Moore talked about the ‘Phoenix Leadership Programme’ that Merseyside Police set up to encourage individuals from a variety of backgrounds to join the force. The College is currently bringing together evidence to ensure that every force has access to best practice around what works to recruit and nurture the best BME talent.

9. New funding for restorative justice

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that at least £29 million is being made available to police and crime commissioners (PCCs) and charities to help deliver restorative justice over the coming three years. The money is part of a wider pot of funding for victims of at least £83 million through to 2015-16. Funding will also be provided to the Restorative Justice Council, Restorative Solutions and the Youth Justice Board.

The announcement coincided with Restorative Justice Week which took place from 18 to 22 November. During the week, the MoJ launched a series of resources and a short YouTube video which were used by organisations across England and Wales to promote restorative justice locally.

You can find out more about restorative justice from the MoJ’s webchat, which featured ACC Gary Shewan, national policing lead for restorative justice.

10. Out of Court Disposals

The government recently launched a review of out of court disposals, which are a way for some offences to be dealt with flexibly and efficiently outside court. They can reduce bureaucracy and keep police on the front line. However, the current landscape has evolved over a number of years and this has resulted in a number of different disposals which can be difficult for the public to understand and practitioners to apply.

The review – which is being conducted by the government in partnership with the police and Crown Prosecution Service – will consider how we can make sure that the system is effective, simple and transparent. We are keen to draw together the knowledge, expertise, experience and opinions of policing and criminal justice stakeholders and would very much value your input into the review.

The review includes:

• a public consultation which closes on 9 January 2014; and
• a website where the public and practitioners can contribute their ideas and comment on others’ ideas (open until 22 December 2013).

11. Integrated Offender Management (IOM) National Conference 2013

The integrated offender management (IOM) National Conference, hosted by the Home Office and supported by the Ministry of Justice and the College of Policing, was held on 31 October and 1 November. Over 200 delegates from a wide range of partners attended, including offices of police and crime commissioners, police, probation, local authorities and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

The Minister of State for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, Damian Green, launched the conference with a video address to set the direction on how best to embed IOM within the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms, police and crime commissioners’ priorities, and explained the interface between IOM, the National Crime Agency and the serious and organised crime strategy.

Delegates were also able to share effective practice and innovation in a series of workshops focused on a range of topics including, women offenders within IOM, restorative justice, IOM and gangs, Liaison and Diversion and the role of early intervention and prevention.

Initial feedback from delegates has been very positive and some have commented that it has provided a platform to further develop IOM. We expect to publish a conference report shortly on GOV.UK.

12. Proposed New Statutory Powers for the Forensic Science Regulator

Since 2009, the Forensic Science Regulator has ensured that the provision of forensic science services across the criminal justice system meets appropriate scientific quality standards. With no statutory powers, the Regulator has relied on the voluntary cooperation of external service providers and the police’s internal scientific support to achieve and maintain the required standards and ensure compliance with the Regulator’s codes of practice. While this has been successful up to now, the Regulator, the police and the market are broadly in agreement that the time has come to strengthen the role.

Earlier this month, Minister of State for Crime Prevention, Norman Baker, launched a consultation seeking views on the government’s proposals for the statutory powers for the Regulator, and inviting suggestions as to whether these powers are necessary, how they would work and any alternatives available. The consultation closes on 3 January 2014.

13. Vulnerable and Disengaged Young People Fund

The Vulnerable and Disengaged Young People Fund, a new funding stream through the Cabinet Office’s Centre for Social Action, has up to £2m to help grow ambitious social action programmes to support England’s most vulnerable young people. It will be administered by the Social Investment Business on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

The Fund will focus on improving the outcomes of society’s most vulnerable young people, including academic performance, work outcomes, reducing reoffending and improving health outcomes. It will consider proposals from social action-based projects supporting young people, as well as those that involve social action opportunities for young people. Applicants can either apply for funding for new projects or to further develop existing programmes.

Organisations need to submit their applications for a development, evidence or scale-up grant by 6 December 2013. More information on the Vulnerable and Disengaged Young People Grant Fund including criteria and how to apply is available at www.sibgroup.org.uk/youth.

14. Poisons and Chemicals consultations

The sale of certain chemicals and poisons has always been regulated to ensure such products are available to those with a legitimate need as the risk of misuse either inadvertently or by criminal design, for example in the making of explosives, is prevented.

On 21 November, the Home Office launched two consultations seeking views on proposed amendments to the current set of regulations which control sales of non-medicinal poisons; and a new EU regulation on the marketing and use of explosives precursor chemicals. The regulations aim to ensure that burdens are appropriately placed on those at risk of using the substances to cause harm whilst reducing burdens on businesses and legitimate users.

The range of poisons and chemicals on which the consultations are based can be found in a range of every day products such as model paint, swimming pool cleaner, fireworks, model engine fuel and hair treatment. The consultation therefore seeks views from those who may use these substances for personal purposes such as hobbies or in the home, businesses who use them for professional activities, businesses who sell them and producers.

Both consultations close on 6 January 2014.

15. Consolidated Advisory Services for Asylum Seekers

On 12 November, the Home Office announced that the British Refugee Council and Migrant Helpline had been awarded grant funding to provide advice services to asylum seekers following an open competition. The new grants will take effect from 1 April 2014.

From this date, the British Refugee Council will operate a Children’s Panel (in England) to support unaccompanied children seeking asylum. Migrant Helpline will provide independent advice and guidance about the asylum process to adult asylum seekers and their dependants throughout the UK. The services provided by Migrant Helpline from April 2014 will replace current one-stop and wrap-around arrangements

For further information about this, please contact the Consolidated Advisory Services Project team at CASProject@homeoffice.gov.uk

16. Revolving Doors Agency

One year on from the first police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections, Revolving Doors Agency is publishing a report looking at how PCCs are working to cut crime and reduce reoffending. The report is available here. Published in partnership with the Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A), the report focuses on the extent to which PCCs are prioritising tackling the underlying causes of crime, and improving responses to key groups such as young adults (18-24) and those with complex needs and mental health problems.

17. Speeches

Home Secretary’s speech to Policy Exchange about Police and Crime Commissioners:

Damian Green’s speech at the Digital Pathfinders Conference:

Damian Green’s speech to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners:

Damian Green’s speech at College of Policing inaugural conference:

Damian Green’s speech to the Blue Light Innovation conference:

Damian Green’s speech to the Association of Chief Police Officers Leading Change in Policing conference: