October 25, 2024. Milton Keynes

Innovative youth violence intervention shows significant impact in reducing offending and harm – Focused Deterrence evaluation published

The Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership has published key findings following the conclusion of an experimental youth violence intervention, testing an approach called Focused Deterrence in Milton Keynes, which commenced in February 2023.

The findings show very significant impact with reductions in the levels of knife crime and the severity of offending for those that received the intervention. 

45 young people aged under 25, each of whom was an offender in either multiple knife offences, or both knife and violent or sexual offences, received the intervention.  They were compared with a control group with the same offending history, who did not receive the intervention.    

What is Focused Deterrence?

Focused Deterrence is an approach first established in the United States in the 1990s. It seeks to work with the most risky, repeat violent offenders but it delivers a support-first approach which recognises that those involved in violence have themselves been victims, seeking to address the complex issues in their life that are driving their offending behaviours. Alongside it, police deliver a strong enforcement response to any offending, providing a deterrent effect often called a “Sword of Damocles”, hanging over those who do not change their behaviour.

How was it delivered in Milton Keynes?

Milton Keynes Council’s Contextual Safeguarding Team was funded £150,000 by the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership to test the delivery of a Focused Deterrence intervention, working closely with Thames Valley Police and other partners.

The model employed in Milton Keynes saw specialist case workers from the council’s social care team allocated a small caseload of individuals who they would work with on a one-to-one basis for a full 12 months, offering consistent support and able to build a strong relationship. This social care-led problem solving was at the core of the approach.

Each individual was offered a tailored support package, developed with their input, to help them change their behaviours.  Support ranged from help with education, training and employment, referral to health services, help with undiagnosed speech and language needs, intensive work on the risk of knife crime, and often simply helping navigate services.

Simultaneously, Thames Valley Police delivered proportionate and just policing response – ensuring that where the young people were no longer suspected of committing crime, they did not get policed as though they had, whilst ensuring that any outstanding or new crimes were swiftly investigated, intelligence and information was being gathered, shared and acted upon. Importantly, communication with the individual was key; ensuring they knew that any offence was being pursued and that enforcement would be fair but firm.

How was the intervention tested?

The Violence Prevention Partnership designed a robust randomised control trial experiment to measure the impact, creating a “treatment cohort” of 45 young people aged under 25 who were allocated to a case worker and who received the additional intervention. 

They were then compared with a control group of people from Milton Keynes of similar ages and offending histories. They continued to receive their normal services, but did receive a case worker or the additional intervention.  

The trial ran across a full 12 months. During this time their levels of engagement were monitored and data collected from Thames Valley Police systems with regard their offending and victimisation.

This method is recognised as of the highest standard of evaluation, with Thames Valley Violence Partnership being one of the first to deliver such an experiment nationally.

What next?

As young people completed their 12 months with a case worker, a new cohort of was added, with the three case workers managing a total of 45 at any one time. This means to date 90 young people will have received the intervention.

The Violence Prevention Partnership funded the project from its Home Office grant for the year 2024/2025 and is now awaiting further clarity as to its future funding. While the trial has now finished, the project funding is in place for Milton Keynes to continue delivery of the service through to January 2025, but will then conclude.

The full evaluation report is now available to download:

What Works – Focused Deterrence FINAL 6Download

Jules Bottazzi, Director of Strategy & Performance for the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner, and the Head of the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership, said:

“These results are incredibly powerful, providing strong evidence to an approach that tackles the behaviour of those who pose a risk to others and who themselves are often victims.

“Focused Deterrence relies upon that intensive, consistent offer of support from someone who has the time to build a relationship, who can tailor support and problem-solve to help them get their lives back on track.

“But this is not a soft approach. Alongside, Thames Valley Police continue to deliver robust enforcement and investigation of any crime or intelligence they are involved in – putting them before the courts if needed, ensuring there are consequences. Constantly communicating that as a deterrent.

“It is in effect the carrot and stick – the support offer comes first, then fair and proportionate enforcement if needed.

“We will now share this evidence across our local partners, use it to inform local approaches and commissioning decisions.  We must await the outcome of the budget and any future continuation of grant funding, but we now have a solid case for an approach that has clear benefits, if we are in a position to roll-out the provision.”

Notes to Editors