Website of the Department of Health

Foreword from Hazel Blears MP and Melanie Johnson MP

COMMENCEMENT OF PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS AS RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES WITHIN PARTNERSHIPS

As you know, on the 30th April 2004 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England became responsible authorities within crime and disorder partnerships under section 5(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, as amended by the Police Reform Act 2002.  This is welcome news and we are pleased to be able to draw your attention to the joint Home Office and Department of Health guidance to support the new requirements.

The cost of crime has a huge impact on the NHS.  Bed days related to crime and disorder cost the NHS between £1.1 and £2.3 billion per year.  An estimated 116,000 NHS staff were the victims of violence and aggression in 2002 - 2003.  Property damage, risk, liability or injury to staff costs between £300 million and £678 million per year. Effective crime and disorder strategies could impact on a range of national and local NHS priorities such as reducing health inequalities, improving the quality of life and independence of vulnerable older people and improving the life chances of children.

The new status of PCTs as responsible authorities will formalise the role PCTs have in participating in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP), and give PCTs an equal voice.   PCTs will now have more influence in shaping local action to tackle crime and the causes of crime.  It will offer PCTs real opportunities to affect the quality of life for their resident population. 

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) are currently in the process of auditing crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour and drug misuse in their area and PCTs should be participating in this.  CDRPs will then be formulating their strategies which are due to be published by April 2005.

On drugs, there are already many successful examples of joint working.    PCTs have a key role in increasing the numbers of problem drug users in treatment and act as a banker for pooled drugs treatment budget on behalf of local partnerships.  , PCTs local delivery plans address how the trusts are moving forward to achieve drugs treatment PSA.   There are many successes and examples of best practice to be built upon.

Alcohol related harm also has a significant impact on the NHS, and up to £1.7 billion is spent by the NHS in England each year in dealing with the consequences of alcohol misuse. The impact is felt most keenly in A&E departments where at peak times up to 70% of attendance can be alcohol-related. The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England was published on 15 March 2004 and sets out the Government's plans for tackling alcohol-related harms.  PCT's have a key role to play in delivering this strategy, both in terms of tackling the health harms that can arise from alcohol misuse and supporting a partnerships response to incidents of alcohol related crime, particular those targeted at NHS staff.

The joint Home Office and Department of Health guidance which can be found on the websites listed below. 

It has been developed to support PCTs in meeting their new statutory requirements.  It explains how the new statutory duty should be applied, how this links to NHS priorities and plans and gives examples of joint work e.g. between PCTs and CDRPs from around the country.

We would encourage any PCTs that have not yet engaged in this process to do so as soon as possible and, just important, urge CDRPs to explore with their local PCTs how they can work together to  deliver the real results  - both in terms of crime reduction and improving the health of your population. 

Best wishes.Hazel Blears    Melanie Johnson

• Download Guidance for partnerships and primary care trusts (PCTs): Commencement of PCTs as responsible authorities from 30 April 2004 (PDF, 336K)
• crimereduction.gov.uk (opens new window)
• Criminal justice - treatment for offenders (opens new window)