Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

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Glossary of Terms Q U

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Abbreviation or Acronym

Full format of abbreviation or acronym

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QCA

Qualifications Curriculum Authority

QCA maintains and develops the national curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations; and accredits and monitors qualifications in colleges and at work.

RAF

Recovered Assets Fund

The fund is confiscated money and is given to programmes to reduce drug related crime.

RAT

Routine Activity Theory

Developed by Marcus Felson - a fuller explanation is given at http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/learningzone/RAT.htm

RBI

Reducing Burglary Initiative

RBI was part of the CRP and ran from 1999 to 2002. It aimed to reduce burglary nationally by targeting areas with the worst domestic burglary problems and monitoring the cost effectiveness of the different approaches to find out what works best, in which circumstances. http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/bri.htm

RDA

Regional Development Agency

RDAs are non-department public bodies (NDPBs) with a primary role as strategic drivers of regional economic development. RDAs were launched in April 1999 and aim to co-ordinate regional economic development and regeneration. http://www.dti.gov.uk/rda/info/index.htm

RCRAT

Retail Crime Reduction Action Team

Established in 1998 (until 2002) to develop and implement intervention strategies to reduce retail crime. RCRAT was chaired by a senior retail executive with representatives from the retail industry, BRC, police, local government, ATCM and the Home Office. It was responsible for publishing a series of booklets to assist retailers in tackling various crimes, a package for town centre partnerships, a programme for dealing with the issue of young people and retail crime, and it developed the Safer Shopping Award with Business Crime Check.

RDS

Research Development and
Statistics (Directorate) Home Office

RDS maintains the various statistical services published by the Home Office, commissions research and carries out research internally to provide information for evidence-based decisions. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds

RDT

Regional Drugs Teams

Teams co-located within the nine Government Offices (formerly DPAS teams) to support and monitor DATs within the regions. http://www.drugs.gov.uk

RDVAW

Reducing Domestic Violence against Women

See VAWI

RSL

Registered Social Landlord

The technical name for social landlords that are registered with the Housing Corporation in England. Most are housing associations, but there are also trusts, co-operatives and companies. Housing associations are run as businesses but they do not trade for profit. http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk

SARA

Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment

A problem solving tool developed in the US and used in the UK by police and community safety partners. For a full explanation see http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/learningzone/SARA.htm

SBD

Secured by Design

SBD is the UK Police initiative supporting the principles of designing out crime. It is primarily an initiative to encourage the building industry to adopt crime prevention measures to assist in reducing the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime, and is led locally by Architectural Liaison Officers. http://www.securedbydesign.com  >> more detail

SCAREM

Stealth; Challenge;
Anonymity;
Reconnoitering; Escape; and Multiplicity
of further criminal opportunities

Acronym used to sum up the criminogenic attributes of information systems that can assist criminals. Stealth permitted by aliases; the Challenge to hackers to beat the system; the value of Anonymity; the ease of Reconnoitering for ready targets; ready Escape from the crime scene; and a Multiplicity of further criminal opportunities created by a single crime.

SCAT

Street Crime Action Team

Senior team involving departments of government, police, criminal justice system in reducing crime and violence on the streets. http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/streetcrime01.htm

SCI

Street Crime Initiative

See SCAT

SCI

Safer Communities Initiative

SCI is a four year programme 2002-06 http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/safercommunities.htm

SCP

Secured Car Parks 

The Secured Car Parks Scheme is owned by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and managed by the British Parking Association (BPA). Home Office has provided some funding for Regional Development Managers. Further information available at www.securedcarparks.com ; www.britishparking.co.uk and www.securedbydesign.com

SEU

Social Exclusion Unit

SEU was set up in 1997 and is now part of the ODPM. It works mainly on specific projects chosen in consultation, and on cross-government policy related to social exclusion. It does not duplicate the work of other departments. SEU covers England only. http://www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk

SMART(ER)

Specific; Measurable; Achievable/Agreed;
Realistic; Timely
(and capable of being Evaluated and Reviewed)

Acronym applied to objectives and targets to ensure their appropriateness for the task.

SMMT

Society of Motor Manufacturer and Traders

Trade association which addresses the major issues that impact on the motor industry. Further information available at www.smmt.co.uk

SOCA

Serious Organised Crime Agency

SOCA brings together experts, including hi-tech and financial specialists and those with criminal intelligence and investigative skills. It uses modern technology to uncover the new wave of crime bosses whose lucrative illegal enterprises range from drug trafficking and people smuggling through to fraud and money laundering.

SOCO

Scene of Crime Officer

Employed by police authorities to investigate crime scenes to recover evidence by use of fingerprints, photographic or forensic techniques.

SOLACE

Society of Local Authority Chief Executives

SOLACE is the representative body for senior strategic managers working in local government. The society promotes effective local government and provides professional development for its members. http://www.solace.org.uk

SOU

Sentencing and Offenders Unit

See Criminal Law Policy Unit

SPT

Strategic Policy Team (Home Office)

Part of the HO which supports Ministers and the HO Board in the overall strategy for HO business.

SPU

Science Policy Unit

The Unit is responsible for developing and delivering policy on police use of science and technology. This includes the development and implementation of the overarching Science and Technology Strategy as well as programmes such as the DNA expansion programme and prisoner DNA sampling programming. formerly part of Police Science and Technology Unit - PSTU

SRB

Single Regeneration Budget

The SRB began in 1994 and brought together a number of programmes from several Government Departments with the aim of simplifying and streamlining the assistance available for regeneration. SRB is now subsumed into the Regional Development Agencies Single Programme and there will be no more national rounds of SRB. Single Regeneration Budget: Overview

SRDA

Small Retailers in Deprived Areas

Initiative launched in June 2001 to improve the security of small retailers in the 10% most deprived areas in England & Wales and administered by Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships. http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/srda1.htm

SSI

Social Services Inspectorate

Part of the Department of Health, providing advice to Government and contributing to policy development, inspecting local authority social services departments and assessing their performance. http://www.doh.gov.uk/ssi/index.htm

STU

Science and Technology Unit

formerly Police Science and Technology Unit - PSTU. See SPU

TADG

Treatment Aim Delivery Group

TPI

Targeted Policing Initiative

TPI was part of the Crime Reduction Programme. It was not aimed at any particular type of crime, but at helping the police to develop and implement a problem oriented approach. TPI invested around £30 million over three years in over 50 projects aimed either at developing innovative approaches or at implementing proven interventions or problem-oriented methodologies. http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/rbinit_2.htm

TURNING POINT

Non-Government treatment provider. See website for more information

UKADCU

UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit

now part of the Drugs Strategy Directorate (Home Office).

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