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Peer Review

The supportive Peer Review offer from the VKPP is to assist forces in the delivery of their National Vulnerability and Public Protection Strategy. Working across the 14 thematic strands of public protection, the strategy is created to address the College of Policing’s well-researched ‘perennial' issues. The perennial issues are areas identified within policing where action is needed to drive improvement for the public across a range of contexts, rather than for a particular crime type or operational area of policing.

The Peer Review Capability is a fully funded supportive offer, to support forces by leading reviews with a dedicated team of subject matter experts from policing, academia, partnerships and the voluntary sector. Working together, they will bring value in terms of knowledge, assessment, victim focus and academic insight into both the evidence and practice that underpins the Strategy.

The VKPP peer review aims to:

  • Provide a supportive process to assist forces in the implementation and delivery of the National Vulnerability and Public Protection Strategy and the management of their service to vulnerable children, adults and communities.
  • Contribute to the national evidence base through identification of promising practice.
  • Improve consistency of approach to delivering the National Vulnerability and Public protection Strategy.

The team have worked closely with the College of Policing and other peer review functions to mobilise this offer, ensuring that the processes and strategies across all review offers are consistent yet unique in terms of their area of focus.

Since the start of 2021, VKPP have successfully completed a number of peer reviews. The peer review capability is a wholly supportive process, with the VKPP acting as a critical friend, as opposed to formally inspecting the force, whilst providing meaningful considerations/opportunities for improvement.

The peer review is delivered in three phases: a desk-based review of key strategic and operational documents supported by open-source research undertaken by the VKPP research workstream, which would include any recent inspections or internal reviews, a programme of meeting observations and online interviews and a three day on-site visit to the force area where we undertake face to face interviews with individuals at all levels who either work within or are responsible for the focus area.

All information gathered during the stages is then analysed against the objectives and key findings are presented within a formal report alongside, emerging practice, considerations and signposting to other work that may support any ongoing work the force may want to take forward following the review.

  • The peer review team will conduct follow up contacts at three-, six- and nine-month intervals following delivery of the final report. This will support the implementation of any of the considerations that are upheld within Forces and will help to monitor post review impact.

Potential benefits for Police Forces are: -

  • A better understanding of the Force’s response to Vulnerability.
  • Opportunities to provide consistency across specialist teams.
  • Recognition of any areas of good work within Forces.

Potential benefits for the VKPP are: -

  • An enhanced knowledge and understanding of the policing response to vulnerability within the Peer Review Team and wider VKPP.
  • Further knowledge of examples of emerging practice in this area of vulnerability
  • Identification of recurring themes across multiple police forces

Reviews are confidential to the force, and any learning from the final report will not be shared any wider without express permission. 

To request a VKPP peer review please contact  vkpppeerreview@college.police.uk

Peer Review Cadre - Subject Matter Experts

The peer review process relies upon a cadre of subject matter experts built from policing, partners and voluntary organisations, across the breadth of vulnerabilities, to add their professional insight to the peer reviews, either by complementing the academic research or supporting the in-force interviews. We would particularly like to hear from those that represent a diverse workforce.

To find out more about becoming a peer review member of the cadre contact the team by emailing vkpppeerreview@college.police.uk