Bringing early help to policing

It might surprise some observers to see the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) setting up an Early Intervention Academy for Police Leaders.

EIF was established to support effective early intervention before problems become entrenched. We support the work of local areas to identify and respond to children and families with signals of risk in order to improve children’s outcomes and use public money more effectively.

The other day, someone said to me: “Don’t the police get involved rather late, when things are more serious?” Well, I’d argue not. The police see the need for early intervention day in, day out. We hear frustration from police officers at being unable to ensure an adequate response to issues they see over and over again in communities; mental health problems, children missing from home or care, and children whose parents have problems with drugs or alcohol affecting their parenting.

Public safety and welfare

In some forces, public safety and welfare represent the largest category of recorded incidents, not crime-related issues. Recent College of Policing analysis shows that non-crime incidents account for 84 per cent of all command and control calls. Officers told us they often struggle to find the right response due to lack of time or difficulties in getting the necessary action from other agencies.

In his recent blog on early action policing, detective chief constable Andy Rhodes writes: “I recall once seeing a police officer to congratulate them on passing their two-year probation only to hear her say ‘we are not making any difference’. This