Prevention and rehabilitation

The APCC works to influence legislation, policy and funding decisions concerning crime  prevention and the wellbeing of children and young people.

We support members in providing local leadership and implementing evidence-based practices so that PCCs and their offices (OPCCs) are well equipped to enhance their responses. PCCs employ preventive measures that contribute to safer communities and better outcomes for children and young people. 

We also support PCCs in their work with local partners in areas relating to vulnerability.  These include; social care, mental health, drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness and police custody.  We advocate on behalf of PCCs to ensure that notable local practice is brought to the attention of national partners and parliamentarians.

Our priorities are to support PCCs to: 

• Engage with government, the Home Office’s Crime Prevention Unit and with national partners to ensure alignment with key national strategies in England and Wales

• Raise awareness of public health approaches to policing on issues affecting children and young people, and enable PCCs and OPCCs to incorporate these methodologies into their strategies

• Develop briefings to ensure PCCs are informed of the latest developments and can contribute to discussions on national policies affecting children and young people 

• Provide opportunities for PCCs to share best practice, discuss challenges and strengthen collaborative efforts in addressing the needs of children and young people

“On behalf of the public, PCCs are determined to maintain an unwavering focus on preventing crime, to protect people and communities and, by holding police forces to account, improve public trust and confidence in them.” – APCC’s Joint Leads for Prevention, Clare Moody, PCC for Avon and Somerset, and Jonathan Ash-Edwards, PCC for Hertfordshire

Public health approaches

A public health approach to policing recognises links between crime and issues such as, health problems, social exclusion and inequality.  It focuses on proactive, preventative activity to address underlying risk factors within specific groups, rather than reacting to individual crimes.  It builds strengths such as employability, access to drug/alcohol treatment, mental wellbeing support, help with accommodation issues, maintaining tenancies, parenting skills, diversionary activities and positive role models.

Young Futures programme 

The government has committed to earlier intervention to stop young people being drawn into crime, through the Young Futures programme.  This aims to create opportunities in their communities and improve access to mental health support and includes:  

• Young Futures prevention partnerships – multi-agency bodies to identify at risk children and young people, map local service provision and refer the child or young person to support services  

• Young Futures hubs – bringing local services together to support teenagers at risk of being drawn into crime or facing mental health challenges and, where appropriate, delivering universal youth provision

• Crime Prevention Accelerators – an approach which builds on insights from what works to scale up initiatives to maximise their impact

The APCC works closely with the Home Office and national stakeholders to ensure that PCCs are integral to the policy relating to this work and that the voice of PCCs is clearly articulated to decision makers.

Portfolio leads