West Midlands Police Our vision is to reduce crime and disorder and make our communities feel safer...

West Midlands Police

Our vision is to reduce crime and disorder and make our communities feel safer

4th International Evidence Based Policing Conference

‘The Turning-Point Project’:Testing Offender Desistance Policing

Insp. Jamie Hobday



We recognise:

• The implications of the theory• The benefits of better collaboration with

academia• The benefits of evidence-based policy• The value of innovation• The potential for improvement



Our Values:

We put the public first in everything we do

We act with integrity, fairness and humanity

We are one team working together

We listen, learn and strive to improve



What do we hope to achieve?By:• Maximising the

impact of limited public funds

• Being truly intelligent in the way we prioritise, assess and manage risk, threat and harm

• Reduce the harm done to and within our communities

• Reduce the number of victims



English Justice System

• Police Arrest on suspicion• Police Investigate• Prosecution decision shared 50/50• Police power to divert from prosecution• Independent (Crown) Prosecution Service• Independent Judiciary: trial and sentence



Decision makingSeven filters/factors:

• Prosecution• Admission• Sensitive case• Previous convictions• Likely sentence• Safety check• Victims’ wishes



The Filters/Factors

• Prosecution– Sufficient evidence– Other options

discounted

• Admission– Not required

• Likely sentence– Not custodial

• Previous convictions– None– Previous diversions

• Sensitive case– Risk management



• Victim’s WishesA sliding scale of weighting:

From victim led for sensitive cases

to….

Victim consulted for

less sensitive cases



Randomisation

• Splits eligible subjects into one of two groups:– take part, or– control group

• Impartial process• Cannot be affected by

operator



The ‘Cambridge Randomiser’



The ‘Turning-Point Plan’



What’s Involved?

• Voluntary participation

• Agreed ‘Turning-Point Plan’

• Compliance =

no prosecution

• Non-compliance– Failure to keep to plan– Reoffending

Breach

Prosecution



Targeted Risk Level

Low Risk (60%)



Two Essentials: First

‘The Sword of Damocles’ -

i.e. threat of prosecution



Two Essentials: Second

‘The conversation’

Impact

Consequences

Opportunity

Responsibility



Endless Possible Tactics…

• Home visits• Voluntary treatment

– Drug misuse– Alcohol misuse– Psych. Trauma– Therapy

• Engagement with support services

• Reporting in• Curfew• Restrictions on

movement• Restorative Justice• Reparative activity• Drug testing



Key Elements of Police Activity

Celerity Police can respond quickly, or even immediately, by beginning the activity in custody

ConsequenceConditions will have to be completed, enforcement will be rigorous



“It’s your choice…”



End of presentation, thank you for listening





Force Values:

• Public First• Integrity• One Team• Listen,

Learn, Improve

West Midlands Police Our vision is to reduce crime and disorder and make our communities feel safer...

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