The overall objective of these partnerships is to reduce crime, the fear of crime, anti-social behaviour, drug-related crime and the harm caused by illicit drugs. These partnerships are organised on regional local authority geographic boundaries as follows:
In two-tier areas the reduction of crime, fear of crime, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour agendas are the responsibility of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) who are organised on a local district, borough or city council basis. Drug treatment and addressing the harm caused by illicit drugs are picked up by the Drug Action Teams (DATs) which reflect the county boundaries.
In unitary authority areas single, merged, Crime & Drugs Partnerships deliver both the CDRP and DAT functions for their unitary areas.
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRPs)
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, sometimes called Community Safety Partnerships, were established as a result of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, to help reduce crime and disorder in their localities.
Under the Act, local authorities and the Police became 'responsible authorities' for each CDRP. The Police Reform Act 2002 added the Police Authority and Fire Service as responsible authorities from April 2003. Primary Care Trusts were added in April 2004. This document is available to download under related documents below.
CDRPs also include the following organisations in their partnerships:
- Drug Action Teams
- The Probation Service
- Voluntary Organisations
- Crown Prosecution Service
- Youth Offending Teams
- Ambulance Service
Additionally, CDRPs invite other local interest groups and organisations into their partnerships.
Drug Action Teams (DATs)
Tackling drugs requires effective joint working between government departments at national level and similar partnership working between agencies at local level.
DATs bring together representatives of all the local agencies involved in tackling the misuse of drugs, including the health authority, local authority, police, probation, social work, voluntary agencies, education and youth services.
They work with the GOSW Crime and Drugs Team in support of the Government’s updated Drug Strategy (2002). The Strategy follows four key themes of work:
- Young people – to help young people resist drug misuse
- Communities – to help communities suffering from drug-related anti-social and criminal behaviour
- Treatment – to enable people with drug problems to overcome them
- Reducing Supply – reduce the prevalence of drugs on our streets.
