A study carried out by researchers at the Universities' Police Science Institute at Cardiff University, analysed the different experiences of victims of antisocial behaviour in research hoped to help police "tailor" their response to better help people.
The report, called Personal, Situational and Incidental Vulnerabilities to Antisocial Behaviour Harm: A Follow Up Study, used data from a survey of 10,000 victims of antisocial behaviour.
It showed that Devon and Cornwall Police were one of five forces rated as "poor" for identifying repeat victims – one in ten of callers – at the time they contacted the force. It was one of seven forces ranked as "poor" for highlighting that some 20% of antisocial behaviour victims were vulnerable.
A force spokesman said: "The study identified that the force was excellent in its use of computer systems to record all incidents of antisocial behaviour and it was good in how it carried assessments.
"It identified from the HMIC study last year that there was room for improvement regarding how we identify repeat and vulnerable victims of antisocial behaviour.
"Since the review, the force last year introduced a new command and control IT system, which allows pertinent questions to be asked on first report in order to identify both repeat and vulnerable victims at point of contact, allowing for appropriate deployment of resources.
"As a result, the force has given enhanced training to communications and call handling staff to better enable them in identifying those who are repeat victims or vulnerable. Additionally, the force attended the majority of identified antisocial incidents in the report sample which allowed a better assessment than that obtained remotely."
He added: "Antisocial behaviour remains a priority for the force, due to the damaging effect it can have on our communities and an action plan and working group are in place to ensure we continue to improve how we tackle antisocial across the force."
Professor Martin Innes and researchers profiled victims' vulnerabilities, and found the risk of harm for victims of antisocial behaviour depended on three factors – its nature and whether it is personally targeted, the victim's personal characteristics such as their health, and the make-up of their local area.
"Based upon the largest survey of antisocial behaviour victims conducted in this country, this study makes a really significant contribution to the evidence-base about antisocial behaviour and its harms, and 'what works' for victims," he said.
"For the first time, we have been able to understand in which areas most repeat and vulnerable victims of antisocial behaviour live.
"Importantly, the analysis shows that the distribution of the most vulnerable victims reflects the underlying conditions of communities."
The research is hoped to help police tailor their response to the problem of antisocial behaviour – especially with cuts to policing budgets.
"By better understanding what factors contribute to vulnerability we are able to identify what police and other agencies can do to better manage antisocial behaviour," Prof Innes added. "We found that victims want to feel listened to, taken seriously, and to know what police action was taken as a result of their call.
"However, because some victims are more vulnerable and at risk than others, they do not all share the same 'starting place'. As such, police should consider that in some areas and for some victims they need to do more, or start doing things differently."
