Glossary
This information provides a glossary of terms used in Crime and Disorder Reduction and includes Anti-Social Behaviour terms.
ABH
It is an offence to commit 'any assault occasioning actual bodily harm'. This offence is commonly known as ABH.
Acceptable Behaviour Agreement
A Voluntary agreement between an individual and an agency which sets out agreed parameters of behaviour. If the contract is broken further steps will follow, often an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.
Action Plan
An annual plan which contains specific actions aimed at addressing the CSPs strategic aims.Anti-Social Behaviour
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defines anyone causing harassment, alarm or distress to someone not of the same household as the perpetrator as anti-social behaviour.
Anti-Social Behaviour Order
Courts can impose Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) in criminal proceedings where there is a conviction in addition to sentencing or a fine or can impose an ASBO where one of the above makes a free standing application.
Available where the individual has acted in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to a person not of the same household and an order is necessary to protect persons from further anti-social acts.
The ASBO will prohibit certain actions that are necessary to protect persons from further acts. For example, exclusion from a given area, playing music, shouting racist comments or swearing.
If the ASBO is breached a prosecution should follow and the usual sanction will be a custodial sentence.
Arson
Arson is the crime of setting a fire with intent to cause damage.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)
ANPR consists of cameras linked to a computer. As a vehicle passes, the ANPR equipment reads the number plate and checks it against sources such as the Police National Computer, DVLA and Customs and Excise databases. It the number plate is matched, for example with a stolen car, the ANPR equipment will sound an alert so that the car can be stopped.
Once alerted, police officers stop the vehicle concerned. Only vehicles that are highlighted by enforcement agency databases will be stopped, so no law abiding citizen has anything to fear from ANPR operations.
BCU
Basic Command Unit (the policing area).
British Crime Survey (BCS)
BCS measures crimes against people living in private households in England and Wales. Begun in 1982 (every two years) but now annually as part of the Crime in England and Wales statistical series from the Home Office.
Burglary
Burglary involves unauthorised entry into a building or unauthorised entry to a part of a building. In legal terms, an unauthorised entry is counted as burglary when the aim is to commit theft, a serious assault or criminal damage, or where theft or a serious assault are committed or attempted by the person once they have entered.
CCTV
Closed Circuit Television. A TV system that does not broadcast signals to public systems but to a limited number of monitors. It may use cable or wireless transmitters/receivers or the Internet.
Criminal Damage
A person without lawful excuse destroys or damages property belonging to another intending to destroy or damage any such property or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged shall be guilty of an offence.
Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs)
Set up through the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, CSPs must audit crime and disorder in their areas and set up a strategy to reduce it every three years.
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
Responsible for prosecuting people in England and Wales charged by police with a criminal offence.
Data/Information Exchange Protocol
An agreement that specifies agreed procedures for the collection and use of data/information.
Demoted Tenancy
If a tenant has acted in an anti-social manner in the locality of their rented property the landlord can follow a process to demote the tenancy for a period of up to one year.
The landlord must serve a Notice on the tenant.
The landlord must then obtain a court order for demotion of the tenancy by providing evidence to the court that there had been anti-social behaivour and by persuading the court that in all the circumstances it is reasonable to order possession.
If the tenant persists with anti-social behaviour the landlord can apply to evict the tenant through an expedited process that does not require proof of further anti-social behaviour.
Disorder
An activity which impacts negatively on a local area, community or environment which can be categorised as Anti-Social Behaviour by the relevant authorities.
Domestic Violence
Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or are family members regardless of gender.
Drink-driving
Driving a motor vehicle whilst the proportion of alcohol within the drivers body exceeds the prescribed limit.
Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT)
They review the extent of drug and alcohol problems within their areas and the existing strategies to deal with them. Based on these reviews they establish local strategies and plans for overcoming the misuse of drugs and alcohol in their areas.
Drug Treatment and Testing Order
The Drug Testing and Treatment Order (DTTO) is a new community sentence, aimed at breaking the link between drug use and crime. It is an alternative to custodial sentences.
Environmental Crime
This covers those activities which are against the law and which are detrimental to our environment and our quality of life. Issues such as litter, fly tipping, graffiti and fly posting.
Evidence
The term used for a statement made by a witness in court that proves any certain fact they have stated is true. It can also refer to a statement that proves the witness was in a particular physical or mental state. Physical evidence such as tools used in a crime and forensic data has to be presented in court as part of a statement of fact about a particular case.
Eviction
If a tenant has acted in an anti-social manner in the locality of their rented property the landlord can follow a process to evict the tenant.
The landlord must serve a Notice Seeking Possession on the tenant.
The landlord must then obtain a court order for possession of the property by providing evidence to the court that there had been anti-social behaviour and by persuading the court that in all the circumstances it is reasonable to order possession.
Fear of Crime
The publics perception of the level of crime and disorder, which may be different to the reality of crime levels.
Fraud
The offence of falsely withholding information to gain monetary or material advantage, in a situation where the information should be disclosed. Fraud generally occurs when an individual knowingly makes false representation of the facts for his or her own advantage.
GOSE
Government Office of the South East.
GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm)
It is an offence to unlawfully and maliciously wound or inflict grievous bodily harm upon another person either with or without any weapon or instrument.
Harassment
Harassment is the intimidation or abuse of an individual because of their gender, race, sexuality, religion or age. Harassment comes in a variety of different forms and can be verbal and psychological as well as physical.
Home Office
The Home Office is the Government department responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales. It aims to build a safe, just and tolerant society, to enhance opportunities for all and to ensure that the protection and security of the public are maintained and enhanced.
Injunction/Undertaking
An injunction may be granted by the court:
- Against any (adult) person whose behaviour impacts on the landlord's management of its housing stock and could cause nuisance or annoyance to anyone living in the neighbourhood.
- Against a person who has behaved in contravention to a term of tenancy agreement prohibiting certain types of anti-social behaviour such as harassment or noise.
- Against a person who used or threatened to use their housing for an illegal purpose (e.g. Brothel, drug den).
Evidence must be presented to the Court proving anti-social behaviour or threatened behaviour.
A person who has an application for an injunction against them may offer to the party bringing the application and to the court a promise not to behave in a particular way in the future instead of an injunction. The promise is called an undertaking.
Breach is sanction by committal to prison and/or a fine.
IPPO Strategy
Identified Prolific and Priority Offender Strategy
KDAAT
Kent Drug and Alcohol Action Team
Local Criminal Justice Board
The Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) includes chief officers from the Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, Crown and magistrates courts, the Prison Service, the Probation Service and Youth Offending Teams. The Boards delivery plan sets out how it aims to
- bring more offenders to justice
- provide a better service for victims and witnesses
- increase public confidence in the Criminal Justice System
Magistrates' Court
The magistrates' court is the first step on the legal ladder for those involved in the criminal justice system. Over 95% of all criminal damage cases are dealt with by the magistrates' court, which either provides the necessary prosecution or refers the case to the Crown Court. The magistrates' court is presided over by specially trained members of the public called justices of the peace. The magistrates' deal with most criminal cases, but they also have limited power over certain civil cases.
Mainstreaming
Providing services as part of the usual business of an organisation, rather than as a short term project or initiative.
Mediation
Parties in dispute come around the table to discuss issues in a non-confrontational manner in a neutral venue with the assistance of trained mediators.
Mugging
Street robbery of personal property (see also robbery)
Murder
The unlawful killing of another human being with the intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.
NACRO (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders)
Nacro is an independent voluntary organisation working to prevent crime. It works with ex-offenders, disadvantaged people and deprived communities to reduce offending.
Parenting Contracts
A parenting contract is an agreement negotiated between an agency and the parents of a child involved in or likely to become involved in criminal conduct or anti-social behaviour.
It sets out ways in which parents are required to exercise control over their child's behaviour. It may also set out ways in which the agency or agencies also partake of the contract.
Parenting Orders
Where a pupil has been excluded from school for a fixed period or permanently excluded, a local education authority may apply to a magistrates court for a parenting order in respect of a parent of the pupil.
An order will require the parent to comply, for a period not exceeding twelve months, with requirements specified in the order such as counselling or guidance programmes.
The outcome of the Parenting Order is to ensure that the child attends school and that the parents get the support that they need in order to ensure that this occurs.
Pickpocketing
Theft from the person (see also theft)
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
Police Community Support Officers are civilian members of staff who wear a police style uniform. Their main functions are to provide a highly visible police presence in public areas and to deal with low level nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
Quality of Life
The term used to describe an individual's satisfaction with his or her life and general sense of well-being.
Racial harassment
The intimidation or abuse of an individual because of their race. Harassment comes in a variety of different forms and can be verbal or psychological as well as physical.
Registered Social Landlord (RSL)
The technical name for social landlords that are registered with the Housing Corporation in England. Most are associations but there are also trust, co-operatives or companies. Housing associations are run as businesses but do not trade for profit.
Rehabilitation
A change in behaviour so that it becomes acceptable.
Reported Crime
The number of crimes reported to the police.
Restorative Justice
A method of punishment for anti-social behaviour where perpetrators repair the damage done to society either by repairing directly damage done to a victim or repairing indirectly damage done to a victim by working in the community.
Robbery
Robbery is the term used to describe the theft of goods or property by force or threat of force.
Shoplifting
Theft from shops
Substance Misuse
Is a term which refers to the harmful use of any substance, such as alcohol, a street drug or misuse of a prescribed drug.
Theft
Theft means the acquisition of property or goods that belong to another person with the intention of not returning it to the legal owner. The act of theft is stealing, not robbery.
TWOC
Taking a car without the owners consent.
Violence
'Violence' includes all levels of assault as defined by the law.
YOS
Youth Offending Service. YOS get directly involved with young offenders and their families from an early stage of their offending. Through a programme of early intervention, fast tracking through the criminal justice system, mentoring, citizenship and diversionary activities YOS aims to influence young people to make positive choices which will alter the course of their lives.
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| Last updated: 26/05/10 at 12:02:33 Office use only: 13/2010-12-03 |
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