Rapid Response Team

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Rapid Response Team
London Borough Of Tower Hamlets Youth Community
Services
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RRT Background

• Rapid Response Team was established during
  the year 1999 to work with young people between
  13-19 engaged in youth conflict who live in
  Tower Hamlets.

During the year 1999 London Borough of Tower
Hamlets saw an increase of youth related conflict
occurring resulting in serious life threatening
injuries caused by knife wounds. Since then RRT
has been working immensely hard with young
people, and other organisations both statutory
and voluntary over the last 8 years playing a
pivotal role in reducing youth conflict in a
larger scale in the borough. Furthermore it
continues to develop links with appropriate
agencies such as the metropolitan Police,
Secondary Schools, residents, parents and also
other service providers working with young
people.
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Progression Chart
ACTION REQUIRED

• Referral received
• Police
• Councillors
• Senior Managers
• Voluntary organisation
• Other key agencies

No action required Referral banked
Yes

• 2 4 weeks
• Response
• Assessment of conflict
• Mediation
• Detached Work

RESPONSE
Initial stage Short term High level intervention
ENGAGEMENT

• 26 weeks programme
• Rapport building
• Issue based project
• Accreditation
• Exit strategy

Medium term Ongoing support Personal development
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Progression Chart cont
DEVELOPMENT

• 52 weeks development package
• CBT
• Personal development
• Accreditation/ recording
• Employment

Long term EET Mainstream activities

• Exit strategy
• IAG support agencies
• YIP/ YISP
• Positive youth activities
• EET
• New Start/ Connexions
• Other voluntary providers

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Late Night/Street work
The late night provision is primarily
preventative work as sessions are tailor made and
designed to divert and engage young PEOPLE away
from ASB and crime..
The late night project is one such vitally
important project, designed to cater for young
people who are over the age of 16 and are neither
in education, employment nor training (NEET).
Young people in these circumstances are most
likely to engage in antisocial behavior, In
response to unwanted and troublesome behavior of
such a group of young people, RRT devised and
implemented late night provisions to engage them
and deter them away from ASB and crime.
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YCAP After School Patrols

• Tower Hamlets

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Background/Partners

• Tower Hamlets adopted several of the YCAP strands
  for roll out in the latter part of 2008.
• Partners included YOT, Police, SNT, Youth
  Services and Safer School Partnerships
• These patrols were one of these pieces of work.

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Key Elements of Plan

• Police presence between 3pm and 7pm in key areas
  on each school day
• Consultation and communication with schools
• Awareness of young people to police presence and
  why

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Barriers

• Resources
• Awareness/profile
• Relevant intelligence

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Results

• At the mid way point there was 6 arrests, 243
  stops and 1 cannabis warning. Of those young
  people stopped all were referred into the YSAT
  pilot
• A review provided positive feedback and only one
  area expressed concern over increased police
  presence

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Lessons

• Securing adequate resources
• Keep good lines of communication with schools
• Ensure good liaison with intelligence desks to
  target the most suitable area.