Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

The ACPO Working Group on 'problem solving' was formed with the overall purpose of assisting forces to use problem orientated approaches to make sustainable reductions in the fear and actual levels of crime and disorder in the most cost effective way. The group started by conducting a present position survey of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, in relation to their use of problem solving approaches. Workshops were held to identify key issues and as a result revised approaches were developed under the following headings:

1. A document demonstrating how POP & NIM can be integrated.

2. A Strategic Guide to leaders regarding implementation

3. A Practitioners Guide

4. Aims & Objectives of any training products

The document can be read as one or alternately each section will stand in its own right. Problem solving offers a logical way forward to make a difference to communities. I commend this document to readers as a worthwhile addition to their policing toolkit.

Ian McPherson
Assistant Chief Constable
Chair – ACPO Problem Solving Working Group

The Police Standards Unit (PSU) supports the value of this work and the guide brings together learning from a wide variety of sources. It recognises the differences in problem solving approaches being implemented and some of the ambiguity and confusion this causes. Consequently, it highlights the need to explain how the problem solving approach complements the National Intelligence Model and how the two can be integrated.

This project has also helped share good practice and has brought together personnel from different agencies who have exchanged ideas. The enthusiasm for the problem solving approach should not be underestimated.

At the strategic level there is guidance on developing a problem oriented organisation and how problem solving, through multi-agency partnerships, can enrich the NIM and in particular the tactical tasking and co-ordinating process. There is an opportunity for each agency to improve knowledge of how the process fits together and make a real difference at both national and local levels.

At the practitioner level there is concise and straightforward guidance, which will assist in better implementation of the problem solving philosophy and bring some real deliverables to the process.

Paul Evans
Director
Police Standards Unit