The Role of the Police in Public Protection Roger Baker Chief Constable, Essex Chair, ACPO Youth Issues Group and ACPO Performance Management Business Area Roger Baker Chief Constable, Essex Chair, ACPO Youth Issues Group and ACPO Performance Management Business Area

Role of the Police A constable’s prime functions are: The protection of life and property The maintenance of order The prevention and detection of crime The prosecution of offenders against the peace

Youth Crime - Context 32% of crime recorded by Police is committed by young people (estimated to be 50% of all crime)   25% of young people commit a crime at some point – 75% do not   15% of young people commit serious crime, i.e. robbery, burglary, car theft and assault   5% of young people are PPOs committing 50% of all youth crime 60% of anti-social behaviour is attributed to young people

Youth Victimisation 50% of victims of all crime and anti-social behaviour are young people   74% of youth crime is committed against young people 55% of young offenders have also been a victim   Being a victim at age 12 is a significant predictor of offending by age 15   Most young victims do not report their experience to the police and many do not tell anyone at all

Youth Nuisance 46% of all non-crime calls to the police concern youth nuisance Youth issues feature in the top three priorities of every community   youth crime and anti-social behaviour   lack of positive things to do in the area and   lack of job prospects

Key Areas of Policing Delivery Strategic overview set out in ACPO Youth Strategy Effective practice delivery set out in Youth Toolkit Neighbourhood Policing, Safer School Partnerships and Youth Offending Teams all have dedicated officers in every neighbourhood, high risk school and YOT Statutory partnerships see officers working closely with and within a range of multi-agency settings Key third sector partnerships see officers working closely with and within Victim Support, The Prince’s Trust, Rainer, missdorothy.com, etc.

“It’s Never Too Early: It’s Never Too Late” The ACPO Strategy for Children and Young People The ACPO Youth Strategy “It’s Never Too Early… It’s Never Too Late” The ACPO Strategy for Children and Young People has four key themes and six cross-cutting strands; Engaging with children and young people Children and young people as victims and witnesses Children and young people at risk of future involvement in criminality Children and young people who offend Human Resource Development Every Child Matters Safer School Partnerships Neighbourhood Policing Youth Toolkit Youth Justice Board Communications

Neighbourhood Policing Youth Toolkit Turning the ACPO Strategy into effective practice Plain English translation of otherwise complex, convoluted and confusing youth agenda Relevant partnerships, processes and good practice explained simply Risk-based evidence-led model for multi- agency intervention Identifying individual young people at highest risk of involvement in crime Currently being piloted in Essex and Metropolitan Police Proactive Essex Police Youth Strategy Neighbourhood Policing Youth Toolkit

Some New Developments Tripartite Government responsibility via Department for Children, Schools and Families, Home Office and Ministry of Justice Additional pre-court disposals – Conditional Caution for 16/17 year olds and Youth Restorative Disposal Youth Crime Action Plan – aspiring to be radical and fill current policy gaps Children’s Plan developments for broader issues Creation of Youth Taskforce to ensure Youth Matters provisions are embedded in practice New Statutory Performance Indicators and creation of APACS - new performance framework for policing and community safety

Some Issues Governance and work areas confused More policy reconciliation required Performance regimes can stifle innovation Close ‘perception versus reality’ gap - too much priority & time given to media sensationalisation More positive marketing and communication to the public - more public engagement required Good work needs to be rewarded Resource capacity – need to think differently ‘Status’ a problem Changing demographics Guns, gangs and knives

ConclusionsConclusions Evidence base is compelling Performance framework is important – Restorative justice and victimisation need positioning Marketing and communication – including the voices of young people – to wider public Benefit of prevention and early intervention in terms of offending and re-offending is clear Resource mindset is a barrier for many Recognising police potential remains an issue Chief officer sponsorship is key Youth Justice Agenda – we have a real chance to influence