Early Intervention Panel
Purpose
The purpose of the EIP is to identify young people (10-17) who are involved in antisocial behaviour, or who are at risk of offending, in order to provide support, challenge and diversionary activities to reduce the risk of these young people entering the criminal justice system. Through this work, we aim to protect our community from the effects of antisocial behaviour.
The Crime and Disorder ACT 1998 defines anti-social behaviour as acting in a manner that caused or is likely to cause harassment alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as the perpetrator.
Frequency
Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month starting at 10.00am.
Membership
Police, including Safer Neighbourhood Teams, Safer Schools Team and Safer Transport Team
Young People’s Services including Youth Offending Team, Connexions, YISP
Children’s Social Care
Anti Social Behaviour Team
Voluntary sector agencies
Housing (including housing associations)
Substance misuse
Health
Probation Service
The panel is currently chaired by the Deputy Head of Young People’s Services for the London Borough of Harrow.
Information sharing
Section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 confers on any person a power to pass information to certain relevant authorities (including police, probation, health and local authorities) if necessary to help implement the provisions of that act, which includes local strategies to reduce crime and disorder
All represented agencies will be required to sign the London Borough of Harrow information sharing protocol.
Referral Criteria
-Behaviour of young person falls within the definition of anti-social behaviour in accordance with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998
-Young person is aged between 10-17 years old
-Young person is currently active in anti-social behaviour in the Harrow area
-Young person is the subject of documented evidence regarding this behaviour in the London Borough of Harrow
Structure
The monthly multi-agency panel takes referrals from any source. The needs of the young person and the risks they pose to themselves and to the community are identified through information sharing. The SARA model is applied to each referral to apply a problem solving approach to dealing with the situation. A lead agency is identified and an initial plan agreed. The lead agency is responsible for carrying out a further assessment and reporting back to the panel on progress against the plan. Young people are monitored for a minimum period of 3 months.
The meeting has a standard agenda, which consists of:
-Introductions and apologies
-Restating of the duty of information sharing and of confidentiality in the best interests of the young person
-Review of existing cases
-New referrals
-Any other business
Step-by-Step guide to referral
- Referral form completed and returned to the Anti Social Behaviour Unit (by the 2nd Monday of the month for the young person to be discussed at the next monthly meeting)
- 2nd Tuesday of the month the Anti Social Behaviour Unit circulates the minutes of the previous meeting and all of the new referrals to the Panel members. Members to conduct internal agency checks on the young person before the meeting.
- 3rd Monday of every month the Early Intervention Panel is held. All of the panel members discuss their involvement with the young person and create an individual support plan to suit the young persons circumstances.
- After the meeting a letter is distributed to the parent/guardian of the child to inform them that their child has been referred to the panel; the letter informs the parent what intervention the panel would recommend is put in place.
Appendix 1
Parent/Guardian of
Address 2
Harrow
Middlesex
Address 3
Date
YELLOW LETTER
Dear Parent / Carer
London Borough of Harrow Council and The Metropolitan Police Service are committed to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in our community.
I am writing to inform you that (name) has come to the attention of the Early Intervention Panel due to his/her anti social behaviour within the London Borough of Harrow.
Following the incident below at (time) on (date) a first warning letter is now being sent.
(incident location details )
…………………………………………………………………………………………
This type of behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in the London Borough of Harrow.
The behaviour of ……………………… was discussed at The Early Intervention Panel, who have recommended that your child be offered support from …………………………….. A representative from this agency will be in contact with you.
His/her progress will be monitored for at least 3 months, or until such a time as the behaviour stops.
It is extremely important that this issue is addressed and failure to engage in the support offered could result in further action being taken against your son/daughter to prevent his/ her behaviour causing further distress to the residents of the London Borough of Harrow.
Should you wish to discuss the matter further, please feel free to contacts me on………………………………………………………………………………………
Yours Sincerely
cc.
Appendix 2
Parent/Guardian of
Address 2
Harrow
Middlesex
Address 3
Date
RED LETTER
Dear Parent / Carer,
Following the incident below at (time) on (date) a second warning letter is now being sent to in regards to your (son/ daughter) ……………………
(Incident location and details)
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
We are concerned that your son/daughter has continued to behave in an unacceptable way. We would advise you that should the incidents involving, ……………..continue we will invite you and ………………………….to attend an interview to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Contract or in some cases legal action will be considered.
If there are further incidents an application for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) may be considered or criminal prosecutions may be pursued where appropriate. If you are a tenant the actions of your children could put your tenancy and your home at risk.
Clearly these measures can be avoided with your co-operation. However, if you feel you may have difficulty doing this, please feel free to contact us on the following number…………………………………….
DO NOT IGNORE THIS LETTER
Yours sincerely
cc.
Appendix 3
ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR CONTRACT
THIS CONTRACT is made on
BETWEENLondon Borough of Harrow
WITHMetropolitan Police Service
AND Name:
Address:
DOB:
AGREES the following in respect of future conduct:
FURTHER enters into a commitment with the council and police not to act in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not in the same household.
BREACH
If does anything, which he has agreed not to do under this contract, which the council and police considers to amount to anti-social behaviour, the council may make an application to the Magistrates Court for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order, to prohibit from acting in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household.
FURTHER acknowledges that where an Anti-Social Behaviour Order is made by the Court and breached he will be liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine or both.
THIS CONTRACT WILL RUN FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD AND EXPIRE………………………….
Appendix 4
Parent/Guardian of
Address 2
Harrow
Middlesex
Address 3
Date
GREEN LETTER
Dear Parent / Carer
Further to our previous contact in regards to ……………….. coming to the attention of the Early Intervention Panel due to his/her anti social behaviour within the London Borough of Harrow, I write to inform you that since …………..(date) no further complaints have been received.
Due to his/ her improved behaviour ………………….. has been removed from the Early Intervention Panel.
I would like to thank your son/daughter for their improved behaviour and request that it continues.
If you would like to discuss this matter in detail, please contact me at the above address.
Yours Sincerely
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