Health service methods could assist police in tackling Anti Social behaviour

Methods used to promote new knowledge across large, complex, health service organisations could also be applied to help police forces tackle anti-social behaviour.

Professor Jo Rycroft-Malone and Dr Christopher Burton, of Bangor University’s School of Healthcare Sciences are working with the North Wales Police and the National Police Improvement Agency on developing effective policing solutions to anti-social behaviour.

The collaboration is applying a method used effectively in the health service so that new information and evidence regarding what is effective can be adopted across large and compex organisations. The Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework, developed by Professor Rycroft-Malone for the health service, is widely used nationally and internationally. It ensures that evidence regarding what is effective and efficient is used in health service planning and delivery.  This collaboration will test how readily the PARIHS framework can be applied to a policing context. It will also ensure that appropriate means of implementation are designed to promote the use of effective solutions to anti-social behaviour.

Professor Rycroft-Malone, Director of the School of Healthcare Sciences IMPLEMENT@BU research programme says ‘My Co-Director, Dr Burton and I are delighted to be working with the North Wales Police and the National Police Improvement Agency on issues of regional and national importance. The collaboration provides an excellent opportunity to share experience and expertise in tackling the challenges of implementing evidence of ‘what works’ across different public services.’

‘Reducing and resolving crime and anti social behaviour is a key priority for North Wales Police,’ said Ian Shannon, Deputy Chief Constable, ‘and I am grateful for the support that both Bangor University and the National Policing Improvement Agency are providing. This collaborative approach demonstrates our joint commitment to evidence led approaches, which are vital in order to protect the service we provide to the public, particularly when resources are restricted’.

Publication date: 7 February 2012