THRIVE-SP – crime scene preservation and crime prevention advice in risk assessments to support victims

The aim of the initiative is to ensure that victims receive good crime scene and evidence preservation advice, and crime prevention guidance during their initial contact with Dorset Police. The overarching aim is for the force to provide a service that enhances the safety of victims.

The intended outcomes are to:

• improve victim engagement by providing more accurate and appropriate information tailored to victims’ needs at the initial point of contact with Dorset Police
• improve the recording of information within the risk assessments
• maintain a consistent application of mandatory THRIVE-SP to incident logs
• improve the quality assurance to ensure that victims are receiving correct and up-to-date information
• improve victim satisfaction to ensure individuals feel supported during the investigation
• improve the identification of suspects at the earliest opportunity

In September 2024, THRIVE-SP was implemented in response to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) identifying this as an area for development. Although Dorset Police provided good crime prevention and crime scene preservation information, they failed to capture and document the advice. 

To resolve this, the superintendent (head of department - contact management) suggested adding the crime scene preservation and crime prevention information to the THRIVE risk assessments model. The idea received the support for implementation from the senior leadership team (SLT).

Implementation

Dorset Police are committed to providing the same information to every victim, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. SLT consulted with contact trainers to include the following wording in the THRIVE-SP risk assessments:

• scene preservation – are there forensic opportunities? If so, please detail the advice given to the victim
• prevention – please detail the crime prevention advice given, consider signposting by sending a text link to the victim

Once the wording was agreed on, a change request was made to IT to amend the THRIVE-SP risk assessment held within STORM (computer aided dispatch system).

To ensure that the THRIVE-SP risk assessment is included on the incident log, a tick box prompt appears upon closure if one has not been included. Under the crime scene and evidence preservation section, staff consider the following:

• are there forensic opportunities?
• is there any evidence that can be retained to assist an investigation?
• does a crime scene investigator need to attend?

Staff will then provide tailored crime prevention advice to victims. They will also send victims a link to the force’s website for more in-depth guidance. Supervisors will return to THRIVE-SP risk assessments to staff if they are not included or are of poor quality. 

The training team have updated the THRIVE-SP guidance to include the new wording and prompts for staff. Staff were then notified by email of the updates to the guidance. The contents of the email include:

• information regarding the change and wording of the new THRIVE-SP risk assessment
• advice regarding recording any crime scene and evidence preservation given in the risk assessment
• information on how to send a text or email to the victim containing the link to the crime prevention advice page on the force’s website

Subsequent training days have been implemented, involving an in-person ten-minute presentation on recording expectations around crime scene preservation and crime prevention sections of the risk assessment.

There was no cost required for the planning or implementation of THRIVE-SP.

Dorset Police have conducted their own monthly quality assurance checks by conducting THRIVE-SP dip samples. Individual learning or examples of good practice are fed back to staff. Departmental learning for themes arising have been also addressed by further training. 

During the quality assurance process, further prompts were added to the voice of the child within the harm and vulnerability sections.

• staff feedback has been positive, with many commenting on how they have the knowledge to discuss crime prevention and crime scene and evidence preservation with victims
• supervisors have noted that there has been an improvement in the quality of crime scene and evidence preservation advice given to victims. This has led to the capturing of vital evidence to support investigations

• it was essential for implementation to provide training and guidance to staff to ensure consistency in the advice given to victims
• regular quality assurance checks have assisted the force with maintaining the delivery of guidance and advice to victims
• SLT buy in was essential for deciding the wording within THRIVE-SP risk assessments and the clear and concise wording allowed staff to easily understand what information needed to be included and excluded