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Vulnerability and violent crime interventions

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Evaluations of measures aimed at reducing vulnerability and violent crime, including implications for practice.

First published

The interventions on this page were independently evaluated to test their effectiveness at reducing vulnerability and violent crime, as part of the vulnerability and violent crime programme (VVCP).

The interventions focus on:

  • gangs and youth violence
  • vulnerability and early intervention
  • vulnerable children and child protection
  • risk assessment and management
  • county lines
  • child sexual abuse and exploitation

The interventions were selected for evaluation through a call for practice, with police forces in England and Wales nominating their most promising local initiatives.

The VVCP is funded by the Home Office police transformation fund. It began in 2018 and is run in partnership with the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). The programme is now in its third and final phase, which focuses on county lines and child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Gangs and youth violence

DIVERT

DIVERT uses a trauma-informed approach to divert young people away from crime, putting strategies in place to break a cycle of offending. Custody intervention coaches (CICs) are trained and embedded within the force’s custody suites. The CICs approach suitable 18- to 25-year-old detainees and support them in seeking employment and education opportunities.

The intervention is run by the Metropolitan Police Service.

 

Operation Divan and Operation Met Divan

Operation Divan and Operation Met Devan aim to reduce the number of young people carrying weapons and raise awareness of the consequences of carrying weapons. Police work with partners to support people under the age of 18 who have been identified as being at risk of weapon carrying and to prevent future escalation. 

These interventions are run by North Yorkshire Police and the Metropolitan Police Service.

 

Community initiative to reduce violence​ (CIRV)

The CIRV adopts a holistic approach to violence by giving gang members a choice to either stop their criminal behaviour or face the consequences. Those who make the decision to stop criminal behaviour are supported by the community, for example, by life coaches, employment advisors, youth workers and the prevention and diversion service (PADs). Clear signals and lawful disruptive tactics are used to discourage individuals who continue with gang violence. 

The intervention is run by Northamptonshire Police.

 

Vulnerability and early intervention

Think family early intervention scheme

The think family early intervention (TFEI) scheme is a force response to the troubled families programme and employs a multi-agency approach to provide holistic support for families. Police community support officers (PCSOs) work with families to understand their key difficulties and identify what can be done to support them. The scheme has a preventative approach and aims to target low level problems before they become severe and high risk. 

The intervention is run by Avon and Somerset Police.

 

Trusted adult workers

Trusted adult workers (TAWs) provide support to young people who have experienced trauma due to adverse childhood experiences. The aim is to reduce the risk of future offending, tackle health problems and wider social issues, and to support young people to enjoy a happy, healthy, crime-free life.

TAWs are funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and work with local authorities. They deliver the intervention in partnership with local safeguarding boards for children and adults and community safety partnerships. Awareness training is also given to staff from a range of partner agencies, so individuals exposed to adverse childhood experiences can be better identified and referred to TAWs. 

The intervention is run by Hampshire Constabulary.

 

Vulnerable children and child protection

Family safety plans in cases of neglect

Family safety plans (FSPs) were developed to avoid repeated child neglect and common assault offences against children.

Working jointly with children’s services and the Crown Prosecution Service, the aim is to intervene early to prevent individuals reaching a crisis point. Officers and child services visit homes together, where they provide robust messaging to families and develop detailed behaviour contracts. These aim to improve the level of care given to children and raise awareness about the consequences of failing to follow the contract.

The intervention is run by Hampshire Constabulary.

 

Risk assessment and management

Spousal assault risk assessment (SARA v3) and stalking assessment and management tool (SAM)

These interventions focus on risk assessment and management tools for serial and repeat perpetrators of domestic abuse and stalking. A three-force pilot began in 2018, run by Cumbria Police, Lancashire Constabulary and West Midlands Police. It is endorsed by the NPCC leads for management of sexual or violent offenders and domestic abuse.

The tools being trialled are:

  • SARA v3 – the latest version of the risk assessment and management tool used by the National Probation Service for domestic abuse cases
  • SAM – used for managing stalking cases

 

High harm perpetrator unit

The high harm perpetrator unit (HHPU) focuses on risk assessment and management. It uses an algorithm and referral process to support professional judgement and proactively identify high-harm perpetrators who may or may not be currently managed. Through identification and bespoke offender targeting and rehabilitation, it aims to directly reduce and prevent the harm they cause to the community and vulnerable victims. It also aims to increase capacity by bringing together integrated offender management and multi-agency public protection arrangements resources. 

The intervention is run by Surrey Police.

 

County lines

County lines intervention team

The county lines intervention team (CLIMATE) is dedicated to disrupting county lines activity in West Dorset. It consists of uniformed officers and partner agencies, such as those working in addiction, housing, children’s services, mental health and domestic violence.

Members of CLIMATE visit addresses that are indicated as being used by county line networks. These visits aim to:

  • safeguard vulnerable people at risk of exploitation through cuckooing
  • develop positive engagement with the drug-using community

A feasibility study for this intervention will be published here after phase three of the VVCP.

Child sexual abuse and exploitation

Adolescent risk team

The adolescent risk team (ART) is a small team in the South West basic command unit (BCU) covering four London boroughs. The team is responsible for coordinating the police response to children who are:

  • vulnerable to criminal exploitation
  • involved in serious youth violence
  • displaying harmful sexual behaviour

The team is part of the BCU safeguarding hub. It works closely with missing, child sexual exploitation and youth offender management teams, as well as partner agencies.

A feasibility study for this intervention will be published here after phase three of the VVCP.

Out of court panels

Out of court disposal panels are used across Northumbria Police force. They were designed by the force’s Northern area command harm reduction team and six authorities in the local area.

The panels aim to:

  • promote positive and consistent outcomes for young people and victims
  • safeguard against inappropriate disposals, including repeat cautioning and the unnecessary entrance of young people into the criminal justice system
  • ensure outcomes are proportionate to the crime committed
  • maintain victim satisfaction
  • reduce the risk of further offending

This is achieved by encouraging joint decision making between Northumbria Police and the combined youth justice system.

A feasibility study for this intervention will be published here after phase three of the VVCP.

Youth engagement team

The youth engagement team (YET) works with vulnerable and exploited young people involved in crime across Suffolk, alongside partner agencies. It aims to:

  • improve young people’s life choices and social integration
  • reduce young people’s associations with gangs
  • reduce incidences of serious youth violence
  • reduce frontline demand

The YET identifies young people to engage with through monthly analysis of police data and completion of a vulnerability assessment tracker (VAT). The VAT tracks young people aged between 10 to 18 years and highlights risks and issues. Each young person included on the VAT is assigned to an officer who will proactively engage with them, focusing on prevention and early intervention to deter association with gangs, violence or crime. Each young person is closely monitored over 12 weeks and can be offered a tailored support package due to links with partner agencies.

A feasibility study for this intervention will be published here after phase three of the VVCP.

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