Focused deterrence randomised controlled trial: early implementation report

Focused deterrence (FD) is a violence reduction approach that uses deterrence messaging and enforcement, desistance support and community influence. Developed in Boston, USA, in the 1990s, FD targets those who have been involved in group-related violence and provides an initial communication to them that the police are aware of their behaviour and continuation of it will result in severe consequences. Alongside this deterrence message, individuals are offered bespoke services (such as mental health, housing, education or employment support). FD also aims to utilise community groups and leaders to reinforce anti-violence messaging and showcase their support for the programme. In this project, FD was implemented across five sites in England (Leicester, Manchester, Nottingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton). In each area, delivery was led by a multi-agency partnership consisting of the Violence Reduction Unit/Partnership, the police, other statutory services (including probation, youth justice and social work) and voluntary organisations. At an initial face-to-face meeting delivered by FD programme teams, children and adults (over the age of 14 and who have been or are at high risk of being involved in group-related violence) were offered tailored support and regular meetings with a support worker for 3–6 months. If they declined support and continued their involvement in violence, they were expected to be referred to the police to face enforcement and disruption activities (such as additional police searches). Typically, local multi-agency panels identified participants using police offending data. YEF and the Home Office have funded a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of FD across these five sites. This early implementation report describes the programme design, preparation, randomisation and initial six months of delivery of this trial, covering the first 21 months of a 45-month project. The report explores the rationale for FD, the progress of early implementation, characteristics of the target cohort and intervention, and trial design features (such as potential outcomes, analytical methods and sample size). The report also examines whether FD can be delivered consistently, the risks and limitations an RCT may face, and the perceptions of participants and delivery teams of FD. This early implementation phase established a two-armed RCT involving 1,670 children and adults: 834 were randomised to receive FD, and 836 were randomised into the control group and received only business as usual (BAU). Seven different FD interventions with common elements were delivered to participants across the five sites. An implementation and process evaluation was also undertaken, including interviews with 13 stakeholders, 13 members of the FD programme team, 14 mentors and 11 programme participants, alongside the collection of programme documentation and delivery data. The evaluation began in April 2022, and the early implementation phase ended in December 2023. Randomisation and delivery are scheduled to continue until late 2025.