Multi-agency rough sleepers hub (MARSH) – new smarter practice

We've published a new smarter practice on how Derbyshire Constabulary is bringing together multiple agencies to address rough sleeping and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Reducing anti-social behaviour

Rough sleeping has risen to unprecedented levels. This has led to ongoing challenges for policing. In Derby, rough sleeping and repeat homelessness were key issues in relation to anti-social behaviour and public safety. This affected the economy, vibrancy and appeal of the city centre to residents, visitors and businesses.

Supporting vulnerable people

Services coordinate their support for vulnerable people through the hub. The new approach identifies people’s social care needs so that they get specific support.

For many people, their vulnerabilities:

• prevent them from taking action, for example if they have a learning disability
• put them at risk of repeat victimisation
• put them at risk of domestic abuse
   

Reducing rough sleeping

The programme has seen a reduction in rough sleeping. This reduces the demand on policing and improves the public’s experience of the city. It has created positive outcomes for a vulnerable and hard-to-engage group.

Go to MARSH smarter practice

Online sessions

To support anti-social behaviour (ASB) awareness week, the College is running a series of online sessions. This includes a session from Derbyshire Constabulary on this smarter practice example. You can access a recording on the modernising neighbourhood policing group on Knowledge Hub (you will need to log in).

Other resources

Smarter practices have been tried in a force and jointly reviewed by the College of Policing, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). They are then written up to share with other forces, and considered suitable for further testing. 

Our practice bank has more examples of how forces are tackling anti-social behaviour, including:

• Force district hubs for problem solving and prevention
• Multi-agency problem solving to reduce anti-social behaviour car cruising
• Altering lighting in an alleyway to reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB)
• Art-based diversion project – We've Got HeART