Case studies

During September-December 2018 we conducted a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 705 Worcestershire County Council (WCC) domiciliary care users to reduce the number of unpaid service invoices and increase the number of people who sign-up to direct debit. We tested two behaviourally optimised conditions against the control across the Invoice, Reminder 1 and Reminder 2 phases. Relative to the control, our test letters significantly increased: direct debit sign ups by 61% (P<.10), people paying their invoice via the WCC website and automated telephone line by 33% (P<.10), and people calling the helpline by 36% (P<.20).

With official figures estimating that there are at least 13,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK, the issue is a national challenge. Katherine Lloyd, Communications Team Leader (Campaigns and Digital) at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, explains how the council translated this national picture into a local reality and helped residents to understand that nowhere is immune from the problem.

Bradford Council has been tackling problems with child sexual exploitation (CSE) head-on for some years and is now identifying and helping a growing number of victims. More recently the council, working with partners, has turned its attention to criminal exploitation.

Bristol Council has adopted a public health approach to tackling violent crime – and in doing so is fully engaging the community.  A stakeholder group has helped to design and implement the strategy, while community champions have been recruited to work with young people. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence

Liverpool has been rocked by a number of stabbings of young people recently. The city council responded by working with partners to launch a programme of support in schools to deter young people from carrying knives. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence.

The Safer London charity is working with councils across the capital to help young women caught up in criminal networks and at risk of sexual exploitation. Advocates working alongside council teams help hundreds of young women every year to escape the abuse.

Norfolk Council has had great success in identifying and arresting criminals involved in county lines. But now the local community safety partnership is turning its attention to doing more work on early intervention and prevention. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence.

The Community Safety Partnership in Northampton has started working with schools to warn pupils about the dangers of knife crime. The initiative has paved the way for a new project which will see youth clubs created to target at youngsters most at risk of finding themselves caught up in organised and violent crime. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence.

North East Lincolnshire Council set up a partnership board to tackle county lines drug-dealing two years ago. The move has prompted a series of new initiatives, including the appointment of a link worker, training for health staff and projects to support victims. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence.

Southend Council has created a new steering group to coordinate the fight against county lines, ensuring the two safeguarding boards, community safety partnership and health and wellbeing board (HWB) are working together. It has already led to a public awareness campaign being run and other projects are now in the pipeline. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence.