The paper seeks to examine the developments from the 1970s to the present that led to the creation of the partnership approach, to ask whether it is still viable in today's world.
Early experiments are analysed together with common problem areas which arose. It charts the interest in these ideas by central government and the implementation of various policies which set the scene for a major step forward in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. It then briefly examines recent public inquiries, together with an experimental project set up in Manchester in 2008 with a Home Office grant, to assess whether the “partnership approach” is still an effective process to address crime reduction.
In conclusion, whilst acknowledging that practitioners in the field are supportive of this “approach”, certain issues remain unresolved. If public support is to be maintained, the paper offers a course of action which would improve the situation.
Notwithstanding the problems and difficulties identified, there is still a general support for the “partnership approach” from the agencies which make up this process; however, it is difficult to assess whether the public is offering the same degree of acceptance. What is clear is that this “approach” has not developed as swiftly and as surely as anticipated.
