Crime & Justice Recent Research & Publications

Recent and current research undertaken at Ipsos MORI:

Public Views On Cannabis (2008)

The Ipsos MORI poll found that nearly three in five (58%) of the public want to see cannabis moved into a higher class, either class A — alongside heroin, cocaine and ecstasy or class B (32% say Class A, 26% say Class B). However the survey indicates that less than half (44%) know that cannabis is currently in class C.

Youth Crime: Reality Vs Perceptions (2008) pdf, 65KB

Crime as a whole is a vitally important issue to people. A presentation on trends, public opinion and other data around this subject.

British Views On Respect (2006)

Ipsos MORI's research preceded the launch of the government's Respect Action Plan which sets out a range of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and build a culture of respect in society. Analysis revealed the disrespectful behaviour which most galls the British public: swearing in public, dropping litter, jumping queues and inconsiderate use of mobile phones are just some of the things which annoy British people.

Single Non Emergency Number (2006)

Ipsos MORI has been commissioned by the Home Office/COI to conduct some research among the public on the introduction of the new single non-emergency number. This will be a single number (101) across the country that people can call to report and/or get advice in relation to non-emergency issues of policing, crime and anti-social behaviour. This will provide an alternative to 999, which will remain for emergency calls.

The research will take place in five partnership areas that have been chosen to pilot the introduction of the 101 number; Hampshire Police force area, Northumbria Police force area, Cardiff in South Wales, Sheffield in South Yorkshire and Leicester City & Rutland County in Leicestershire. In total, 2,500 face-to-face interviews will be conducted across these areas — both before and after the launch of the new number. A key aim of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the 101 communications in these areas.

Public Concern About ASB And Support For ASBOs (June 2005)

With renewed focus on restoring respect and the need to tackle anti-social behaviour post-election, this survey provides a gauge of public opinion towards the use of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs).

The impact of PCSOs on public perceptions in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (2005)

Ipsos MORI conducted a study on PCSOs which comprised of focus groups and depth interviews with local residents, young people, police, PCSOs, local councillors and council officers. The research focuses on the impact of PCSOs on public perceptions of safety, awareness and experience of PCSOs and attitudes towards PCSOs' current working arrangements.

Police Force Restrctures — public consultation surveys (2005)

The publication of HMIC's report 'Closing the Gap' set a challenging new agenda for police forces and police authorities. The report concluded that the current 30-year-old structure of 43 forces of widely different sizes and capabilities does not enable the police to tackle issues such as terrorism and extremism, serious organised and cross-border crime, and critical incidents. It points out that smaller forces do not have the resources and specialist support in certain key strategic areas. The Home Secretary therefore asked police forces to consider whether they should merge with other neighbouring forces in their local region, to form forces of over 4,000 officers.

Ipsos MORI carried out surveys for a number of police forces, including Cumbria Constabulary, Gloucestershire Constabulary, West Mercia Police Authority, Cleveland Police and Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Witness and Victim Experience Survey (2005-2006)

Ipsos MORI is currently conducting a major telephone survey with victims and witnesses (over 30,000 in total will be interviewed by 2006) from all Local Criminal Justice Board Areas (42) in England and Wales. The WAVES data will enable local areas to monitor their progress in relation to initiatives aimed at improving the victim/witness experience. It will allow them to measure their progress against the seven priorities contained in the Victim and Witness Delivery Plan, the implementation of the Victims' Code of Practice and the performance of No Witness No Justice Witness Care Units. It will also complement the Police (PPAF) user-satisfaction survey by giving data on the experiences of victims and witnesses involved in cases in which an offender is charged (PPAF measures the views of pre-charge victims)

Edinburgh Fear Of Crime Survey 2005-2007

Conducted on behalf of the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership, the study aims to examine perceived current levels of crime and fear of crime across Edinburgh, highlighting emerging priorities and areas of success. The specific objectives of the research over the three years are to:

• identify particular concerns and priorities for the local neighbourhood;
• assess experience of crime and recourse to the Police and other organisations;
• assess how perceived safety in local neighbourhoods and the city centre;
• identify perceived trends in crime and fear of crime;
• investigate measures taken to avoid becoming a victims of crime and the effects of victimisation;
• identify any differences between respondent groups and allow comparison with different geographic locations and demographics;
• provide baseline data, by which new initiatives aimed at reducing fear of crime can be measured for effectiveness in future years;
• assess awareness of ECSP.

2005 Edinburgh Fear of Crime Survey

CJS Staff Survey (2004-2006)

In order to better understand what impacts on staff confidence, satisfaction and advocacy and what the Criminal Justice System can do to influence it, the OCJR commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct the CJS Staff Confidence Survey, a 2 year, bi-annual survey of CJS staff. The survey is designed to benchmark employee attitudes across two years of the implementation of CJS reforms; compare attitudes and confidence levels across the six different CJS agencies being surveyed; and determine what impacts on CJS staff opinion and offer insights into what can be done to influence those drivers. The fourth wave of research will be carried out in mid-2006.

Home Office: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (2005-2006)

Ipsos MORI is currently underway with the largest survey of prisoners ever undertaken in Britain. A complex longitudinal face-to-face survey, SPCR involves four interviews with a sample of 4,000 prisoners, each interviewed twice in custody and twice after release. Sampling the entire UK prison population; brokering security arrangements with each establishment; and tracing respondents after their release, are some of the key elements of this work. The overarching aim is to find out what interventions work and for whom with an eye to tackling re-offending.

Home Office — National Evaluation of Neighbourhood Policing (2005)

In order to monitor the implementation of neighbourhood policing at Force and Basic Command Unit (BCU) level up until 2008, the Citizen Focused Policing Research Unit within the Home Office commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct a longitudinal survey of all Police Forces and BCUs in England and Wales. The survey was conducted online with ACPO lead officers for neighbourhood policing and BCU commanders. Information collected in the survey included the nature of the policing approach adopted, the progress with implementation and other changes, level of compliance with the draft practice advice as well as key organisational 'facts'. The first stage of the research achieved response rates of 95% (Forces) and 80% (BCUs), with the next stage due to take place in 2006.

Independent Police Complaints Commission (2005-2006)

The IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct a series of qualitative groups, mini-groups and depth interviews with people across England and Wales from a range of backgrounds. The project was designed to compliment a quantitative survey about levels of confidence in the IPCC. In particular the IPCC were interested in finding out more about the views and experiences of people the quantitative survey identified as less likely to approach the IPCC and make a complaint against a police officer. This included people from a range of BME backgrounds, travellers, LGB groups, younger people and those from C2DE social grades, as well as people whose first language was not English and who had poor English skills.

We carried out discussion groups and mini groups among participants from all of these backgrounds as well as some groups with members of the general public (for comparison). We also spoke (using interpreters) to individuals with poor English skills from countries such as Poland, India and Somalia. Recruitment was conducted on street and using community contacts with fieldwork carried out between November 2005 and February 2006. The topic guide was kept fairly flexible to take into account differing experiences of the police and of the police complaints procedure and moderators were fully briefed in how to handle such respondents sensitively and provided with information about where participants could go if they decided after the group that they wished to make a complaint.

Sharp End (2005-2006)

Ipsos MORI conducted an evaluation of a magazine aimed at police officers and staff. The research explored whether the magazine reached its target audience and whether staff thought it conveyed useful information about police reform in a credible and engaging way. Fieldwork combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies, involving a face-to-face survey and focus groups conducted in police stations with police officers and staff including police constables and sergeants, civilian staff, PCSOs and Specials.

Youth Surveys for the Youth Justice Board (1999-2005)

MORI has conducted annual Youth Surveys for the Youth Justice Board since 1999. The overall aim of the research has been to examine the experience of crime, both as offenders and victims among 11 to 16 year old young people in mainstream education.

The Youth Surveys examine many different aspects of the lives of young people who attend mainstream schools as well as those who have been excluded from school, from truancy and drug-taking, to offending levels, punishments and their own experiences of being a victim of crime. In order to place the findings in regard to offending in context, and so as to provide a clear picture of the lives led by the young people interviewed, the survey asked about their experience of drinking alcohol, taking drugs, playing truant from school and being a victim of crime. The survey reports are available for download at www.youth-justice-board.gov.uk.

Research with Curfewees (2005)

The Home Affairs and Justice section of the National Audit Office (NAO) conducted a study on the electronic monitoring of offenders and as part of the study commissioned Ipsos MORI to carry out qualitative research with offenders on curfew to explore their experiences of electronic monitoring. In total, 24 in depth or paired qualitative interviews were conducted for this study with curfewees and their household members. A full report of the study's findings can be found on the National Audit Office's website — www.nao.org.uk.

Bedfordshire Police Authority "Good Job" Survey (2005)

A quantitative and qualitative study to analyse what the Bedfordshire public think a "good job" by the police is, and to look at which priorities the force should be focusing on to improve this rating. The survey used regression analysis to bring out respondents' overt (e.g. asking directly what the police should be doing) and covert (underlying drivers of "good job") priorities.

The research was conducted in two strands, first being led by a qualitative exploration of residents' perceptions of policing and their preferred priorities, from which a questionnaire was developed to explore a representative sample of residents' views on the main issues that were raised via the consultation.

Drugwatch for the Home Office: A pilot study of emerging trends in illicit drugs in England and Wales (2004-5)

With the objective of identifying new trends in drug use and supply, the treatment of drug users and issues surrounding youth drug misuse and community responses to the problem, MORI conducted telephone interviews with drug professionals (including treatment providers, police, probation, Drug Action Team staff and youth workers) and face-to-face interviews with drug users in ten locations across the UK.