1. Policy process and practice
Professor Roger Brownsword Director of TELOS, King’s College London

2. Factors in public health policy
Evidence
Risk
Precaution and proportionality

3. 1) Evidence
Evidence about: causes of ill health and the efficacy of interventions
Should be based on peer-reviewed research
Usually incomplete and contested
Conclusion: accuracy and fairness in presenting evidence is of crucial importance

4. 2) Risk
Assessing risk:
Statistical view – considers probability and severity
Social construct view – considers value judgements
Conclusion: the assessment of risk in the development of policy should be based on the ‘statistical view’

5. 3) Precaution and proportionality
Prefer the term ‘precautionary approach’
Application involves weighing costs and benefits on case-by-case basis, and judgement
The seriousness and urgency of the problem should also be considered
Any intervention should be proportionate and the least intrusive

6. The intervention ladder
Eliminate choice
Restrict choice
Guide choice by disincentives
Guide choice by incentives
Guide choice by changing the default policy
Enable choice
Provide information
Do nothing

7. Reducing health inequalities
Targeting strategies:
Targeting disadvantaged or at-risk groups
Concerns e.g. stigmatisation
Universal strategies:
Relies on people taking up opportunities
Favours better educated people
Conclusion: monitoring of strategies of crucial importance