Title: Vulnerable people and anti social behaviour: An exploration of current practice
Funder: Division for Social Care and Health Research (Wales)

Abstract: The police increasingly come into contact with vulnerable people such as individuals with mental illness, who also may have learning difficulties or substance misuse problems in the community. Officers can have a key role in responding to situations where individuals experience a crisis linked to mental health (Bather, Fitzpatrick & Rutherford, 2008; Docking, Grace & Bucke, 2008). There is evidence that suggests that vulnerable people may be involved an anti-social behaviour either as victims, perpetrators or both (Campbell, 2002; Berzins et al., 2003). Effective communication and collaboration between the police, health and social care, and housing are key to the policy ideal of improved and integrated mental health care; however, relationships between these agencies can be problematic and there are challenged to working across professional, organisational and policy boundaries (Hunter, Hodge, Nixon & Parr, 2007; McLean & Marshall, 2010). Amidst these challenges, the voice of service users and carers is often not heard (Nixon, Hodge, Parr, Willis & Hunter, 2007). This research will explore tensions between Anti-Social Behaviour policy development and practice in relation to vulnerable people drawing on existing police data. The focus is on: • Relationships between key stakeholders involved (including social care and the police) • Understanding of roles and responsibilities • Challenges that might arise • Barriers and facilitators of effective joint working • Examples of good practice This proposal had been developed in collaboration with two Police Forces and two Third Sector organisations that support service user and carer involvement. Data collection includes: • Analysis of routinely collected data from collaborating Police Forces • Semi-structured interviews • Focus groups • Observations Police forces are required to routinely collect in-depth information relating to anti-social behaviour and initial scrutiny by our collaborators from the Dyfed-Powys and the North Wales Police Forces show that a proportion of these incidents involve vulnerable people with mental health problems This information is logged in a narrative format and partnership activity and further incidents are then also added providing a database of the incident, possible causation factors, solutions implemented and evaluation along with monitoring of the risk level. This data will be analysed in-depth focusing on difficulties encountered, agencies involved and facilitators and barriers to partnership working; the analysis will inform further data collection; vignettes (scenarios) will be developed for use in semi-structured interviews (n=up to 50) and focus groups (n=up to 6) in the two comparison sites. Interviews will be conducted with key stakeholders identified by collaborators and findings from the data; we anticipate that this will include key stakeholders from social care, police representatives, local authority, mental health and housing. We will explore current practices, challenges in delivering integrated services and perceived roles and responsibilities. Focus groups will be conducted with service users and carers to capture their experiences. We will also observe a number of relevant strategic meetings (as identified by our collaborators) including Community Safety Partnership meetings. Findings will inform developments in policy, practice and service provision, including the development of robust effective partnerships to underpin delivery of integrated care. References: Bather, P., Fitzpatrick, R. & Rutherford, M. (2008) Briefing 36: Police and mental health. Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. Available from: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/pdfs/briefing36_police_and_mental_health.pdf Berzins, K. et al (2003) Prevalence and experience of harassment of people with mental health problems living in the community. British Journal of Psychiatry, 183, 526-533. Campbell, S. (2002), A Review of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, Home Office Research Study No.236, London: Home Office. Docking, M., Grace, K. & Bucke T. (2008) Police Custody as a “Place of Safety”. Examining the Use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Research and Statistics Series: Paper 11. Available from: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100908152737/http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/section_136.pdf Hunter, C., Hodge, N., Nixon, J. & Parr, S. (2007) Anti-social behaviour and disability – the response of social landlords. People, Place & Policy Online, 1/3, 149-161. McLean, N. & Marshall, L. (2010) A front line perspective of mental health issues and services. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 20, 62-71. Nixon, J., Hodge, N., Parr, S., Willis, B. & Hunter, C. (2007) Anti-social behaviour and disability in the UK. People, Place & Policy Online, 2/1, 37-47.


Research activity codes: 8.3 POLICY, ETHICS AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE