www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Equality Impact Assessment - Crime and Drugs Strategy
1. What is the name of the policy or service that is being assessed?
Crime and drugs strategy 2005-2008 for the four community safety partnerships in Wilts
2. What are the aims of the policy or service? Whose needs is it designed to meet? What are the current priorities?
The strategy reflects the findings of an audit of crime and disorder which is conducted and published every 3 years in each District Council area. The strategy includes specific objectives and long and short term performance targets around reducing crime, anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol mis-use and road safety in the County. The strategy sets out a framework for prioritising those aspects of the above which are seen as demanding the most urgent attention from the 4 partnerships and the Safer Wilts Exec. The priorities are crime, anti-social behaviour and drug mis-use. It is designed to meet the needs of all the individuals who are affected by those outcomes – eg communities as a whole, young and old.
3. In what ways might this policy or service affect some groups of people differently? Might some groups find it harder to access the service? Do some groups have particular needs that are not well met by the current policy or service?
Consultations, with some of the groups of people the equality assessments are concerned with, have been carried out by Crime Concern on behalf of this strategy. The evidence is available via the impact assessments and within this strategy itself. This strategy seeks to ensure that the vulnerable groups of the 6 key areas are addressed and the aim is to meet the needs of those people. The strategy is not available in other languages, although the option has been offered. There has been close work with the racial equality council particularly around hate crime. Re communication – there is access available via language lines at WCC. Some of the outcomes above could potentially affect young people negatively. Some statements been developed around positive statements of yp, working closely with yp agencies/partners, promoting positive images of up which can be evidenced within the strategies.
This strategy has contributed towards the LAA which demonstrates plans for working with older people and introducing intergenerational activities. It has also encouraged consideration of migrant workers and language barriers around certain issues. Disability access is written into the service specifications for the providers. At any conference/consultation events attendees are asked if there are any specific needs – eg hearing loops etc. Once this strategy is at the replacement stage in 2008 – there will be a review and the implications of discrimination will be considered. However, overall this strategy does seek to address those in the vulnerable groups as part of its focus. More recently we have addressed issues surrounding new ethnic groups and these are since the advent of this strategy and this demonstrates the willingness to consider the equality strands.
4. What evidence do you have for your judgement? Is there evidence of public concern (e.g. complaints)? Have staff raised concerns? Is there local or national research to suggest that there could be a problem?
The overall evidence relating to Q3 is drawn from the consultations carried out as noted. Staff have raised concerns over the lack of young people specific services available – for example around substance misuse – particularly for 16-18 yr olds. This department does regularly question the information around the 6 key areas. Continuous monitoring of new trends and new services and new issues are emerging as we become more aware.
5. Who have you consulted with as part of your assessment? What were the results? Have you published the results of that consultation? If so, where?
As above in 3 and 4. The results are published in line with WCC policy – normally on the WCC website network. This department makes every effort to involve young people when consulting and in policy making where possible. This has been evidenced for example within last year’s evaluation of dispersal orders in Wilts where young people were identified as a key part of the process. We also draw on consultation work carried out by community planning and in fact contribute to this on a regular basis at workshops. Police neighbourhood teams also provide evidenced consultation that can contribute to the work carried out in this department – for eg around the perception of ASB
6. If you have found that the policy or service might have an adverse impact on a particular group of people, can you justify this?
This department believes that it is trying to reduce/minimise any adverse impact and consequently reduce fear, reduce the impact on the public etc. This department feels that they have worked in partnership and have considered the 6 key areas for some time. This is evidenced within the strategies outlined in the recent LAA and other policies already in place.
7. If the impact cannot be justified, what do you intend to do about this? Are there changes that you could introduce which would make the policy or service work better for this group of people? Is further research or consultation required?
Overall –
- Certainly it is essential that future consultation takes into account the 6 key areas. We are fully aware the strategy is 2 years old and not due for renewal until 2008 – at this stage we will fully incorporate the equality issues via any consultation or work carried out on behalf of the strategy.
- It has been recognised as key that we ensure the involvement of users of services – particularly on substance misuse.
- We are working towards ensuring the user groups are represented.
- We are constantly reviewing/challenging, particularly via the department equalities designated personal and are prepared to change.
- We have plans to introduce the equality issue as a regular item on the management meeting agendas and being pro-active rather than relying on individuals. It is present at most, but not all, meetings and this needs to be addressed and refreshed.
8. How will you monitor the take-up or impact of the policy or service in future?
We will consider all the 6 areas in the future. The strategy is designed to reduce the adverse issues and we will be able to assess the success via the continuous surveys we need to conduct for our strategies at each new issue. We are also able to monitor via the complaints process. More broadly, we will consider the 6 areas with the update of any new policy or strategy.
9. What actions do you plan to take as a result of this equality impact assessment? Please state any resource implications.
Give consideration to setting up specific measures /targets re the above
We will introduce the 6 equality areas as a regular item at management meetings
We plan to double check the strategy to ensure they reflect the 6 equality areas sufficiently
We have in place our departmental equality advisor
We plan to review equality impact assessments 6 monthly
10. There is a legal requirement to publish the outcomes of Equality Impact Assessments. Please outline how / where this will happen.
The assessments will be available under WCC policy – most likely on the council website
11. Name of person completing form
Date assessment completed
30/01/07
12. Senior manager approval
Assistant Director Community Services
Date
09/11/07
Contact Details
By Post
Equality & Diversity Team
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN
By Email
By Telephone
01225 713510
By Fax
01225 713117
