Community safety terms and glossary

Community safety has developed its own jargon, much of it in the form of abbreviations or acronyms.

You can find an explanation of some commonly used acronyms that have been extracted from crimereduction.gov.uk glossary of terms. Alternatively, have a look at our CSP plan 2008-11(pdf, 124KB) in which we've incorprated more abbreviations and definitions.

ABC - Acceptable Behaviour Contract

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) are written agreements between a young person, the local housing office or Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and the local police in which the person agrees not to carry out a series of identifiable behaviours which have been defined as antisocial. The contracts are primarily aimed at young people aged between 10 and 18.

ACPO - Association of Chief Police Officers

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) leads and coordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.

ASBO - Anti-Social Behaviour Order

An order by a magistrate which prohibits the defendant from doing anything described in the order.

CDRP* - Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships

Set up through the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, CDRPs must audit crime and disorder in their areas and set up a strategy to reduce it every three years.

CJS - Criminal Justice System

The Criminal Justice System in England and Wales is made up of a number of separate agencies and departments which are responsible for various aspects of the work of maintaining law and order and the administration of justice.

Connexions

Young people's advice and support services

CPS - Crown Prosecution Service

Responsible for prosecuting people in England and Wales charged by police with a criminal offence. http://www.cps.gov.uk

DATs - Drug Action Teams

DAT's are defined in the National Drugs Strategy. They are non-statutory, autonomous bodies charged with the role of being the 'principal mechanism by which agencies will develop the resource partnerships' to give 'clear co-ordination between objectives, resources and outcomes'.

DIP - Drug Intervention Programme

This is a 3-year programme to develop and integrate measures for directing adult drug-misusing offenders out of crime and into treatment

FRANK

Drug communications - You can visit the FRANK website here.

GOL - Government Office for London

The Government Office for London works to improve life in the capital for all our diverse communities.

NCIS - National Crime Intelligence Service

In 2004, the Home Secretary announced that NCIS will become part of the new Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), planned to start work in 2006.

NIM - National Intelligence Model

NCIS produced the National Intelligence Model (NIM) on behalf of the ACPO Crime Committee to professionalise the intelligence discipline within law enforcement. It is currently being implemented across all police forces in the UK. http://www.ncis.co.uk/nim.asp

PAT - Problem Analysis Triangle

Simple tool used in crime reduction problem solving. See http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/learningzone/RAT.htm for an explanation.

PLG - Police Liaison Group

Please see ward-based CPP (Community and Police Partnership)

PPO - Prolific Priority Offenders

On 30 March 2004, the Prime Minister announced a new strategy to reduce the harm which prolific and other priority offenders cause to our communities and to themselves.

SARA - Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment

A problem solving tool developed in the US and used in the UK by police and community safety partners. For a full explanation see http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/learningzone/SARA.htm

SNT - Safer Neighbourhood Team

Information on local ward-based policing.

YOT - Youth Offending Team

YOTs were established under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to co-ordinate the provision of youth justice services locally and to carry out the functions assigned to them in the youth justice plan.You can view Richmond's Youth Offending Team here.

* In Richmond upon Thames the functions of the CDRP and DAT have been merged and are carried out by the Community Safety Partnership (CSP).