Comments for Russell Webster http://www.russellwebster.com     Thrive in the changing worlds of drugs and crime Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:42:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on PbR Question Time by Ben Jarman http://www.russellwebster.com/pbr-question-time/#comment-1886 Ben Jarman Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:42:54 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/?p=2083#comment-1886 How about: "How should incentives and metrics be structured to ensure that organisations are able to innovate and meet developing need?" How about:

“How should incentives and metrics be structured to ensure that organisations are able to innovate and meet developing need?”

]]> Comment on Paying for your drink by Julian Buchanan http://www.russellwebster.com/paying-for-your-drink/#comment-1879 Julian Buchanan Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:08:59 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/?p=2047#comment-1879 The term 'sobriety bracelet' is quaint - as if it could have belonged to the 1920s alcohol prohibition movement. It's interesting to step aside and critically explore this 'helpful treatment development' within the wider context of punitive populism, the drive towards simplistic binary thinking, zero tolerance and the emergence of technology for social control. The so called bracelet is an electronic abstinence tag, - a development that opens the door to abuses of liberty, freedom and human rights. A development that over-simplifies and decontextualised problem drinking and subjects users to 'scientific' surveillance and monitoring. Abstinence not harm reduction is the focus. Some may find a 'use' -the private companies peddling the array of new testing technology will be pleased. Whatever, particular circumstances and whatever particular group of clients that such technology may be deemed possibly beneficial -you can be sure that if this technology is embraced it will be used much more widely and indeed inappropriately. Maybe in true behaviourist style they might also be able to introduce an incremental electric shock when the 'bracelet' detects alcohol consumption - there must be some people somewhere for whom this might save their lives -I hear them argue. Please, just say no. The term ‘sobriety bracelet’ is quaint – as if it could have belonged to the 1920s alcohol prohibition movement. It’s interesting to step aside and critically explore this ‘helpful treatment development’ within the wider context of punitive populism, the drive towards simplistic binary thinking, zero tolerance and the emergence of technology for social control.

The so called bracelet is an electronic abstinence tag, – a development that opens the door to abuses of liberty, freedom and human rights. A development that over-simplifies and decontextualised problem drinking and subjects users to ‘scientific’ surveillance and monitoring. Abstinence not harm reduction is the focus.

Some may find a ‘use’ -the private companies peddling the array of new testing technology will be pleased. Whatever, particular circumstances and whatever particular group of clients that such technology may be deemed possibly beneficial -you can be sure that if this technology is embraced it will be used much more widely and indeed inappropriately. Maybe in true behaviourist style they might also be able to introduce an incremental electric shock when the ‘bracelet’ detects alcohol consumption – there must be some people somewhere for whom this might save their lives -I hear them argue.

Please, just say no.

]]> Comment on Paying for your drink by Ian S http://www.russellwebster.com/paying-for-your-drink/#comment-1878 Ian S Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:21:22 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/?p=2047#comment-1878 Its always difficult to assess the merits of scheme from media mangled press releases and there is never one perfect solution for complex problems. I do think though that drinkers own views may be very different from professional opinions on the locus of control issue. A dependent drinker may value external controls such as a sobriety bracelet (even though falsely attributing power to its efficacy) if it breaks the cycle of drinking and offending and allows engagement with everyday life families or help. Its always difficult to assess the merits of scheme from media mangled press releases and there is never one perfect solution for complex problems. I do think though that drinkers own views may be very different from professional opinions on the locus of control issue. A dependent drinker may value external controls such as a sobriety bracelet (even though falsely attributing power to its efficacy) if it breaks the cycle of drinking and offending and allows engagement with everyday life families or help.

]]> Comment on Prison, Party Politics and PbR by Michael Teague http://www.russellwebster.com/prison-party-politics-and-pbr/#comment-1873 Michael Teague Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:41 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/Blog/?p=540#comment-1873 Some interesting points here, highlighting that - where criminal and community justice is concerned - arguments properly substantiated by evidence often play second fiddle to perception and prejudice. Russell, your figures of crime falling in reality should be contextualised by the looking at what the British Crime Survey (BCS) says about popular perceptions. The BCS for 2009/10, for example, indicated that two thirds of the population believe that crime has increased across the country in recent years (the evidence about sustained falls in crime notwithstanding). Often these arguments are about pereception rather than evidence and sustained logical arguments. Garland’s work has explored the process by which the USA and UK have developed into societies which increasingly embrace harsher punishments, regardless of whether actual crime rates are rising. Much of our current political and popular culture depicts individual offenders as ultimately personally culpable for their offending, rather than understanding offending as related the context of the social and economic structure within which they live. This may be linked with the tendency to punish which is so often articulated by populist politicians. If we accept that the real driver powering PbR is primarily ideological(some will disagree) and reflects a deeply ingrained belief that private provision is a more efficient, effective and profitable way to run our society and provide public services, this helps explains why it is being pushed so strongly by the current government. Some interesting points here, highlighting that – where criminal and community justice is concerned – arguments properly substantiated by evidence often play second fiddle to perception and prejudice.
Russell, your figures of crime falling in reality should be contextualised by the looking at what the British Crime Survey (BCS) says about popular perceptions. The BCS for 2009/10, for example, indicated that two thirds of the population believe that crime has increased across the country in recent years (the evidence about sustained falls in crime notwithstanding). Often these arguments are about pereception rather than evidence and sustained logical arguments. Garland’s work has explored the process by which the USA and UK have developed into societies which increasingly embrace harsher punishments, regardless of whether actual crime rates are rising.
Much of our current political and popular culture depicts individual offenders as ultimately personally culpable for their offending, rather than understanding offending as related the context of the social and economic structure within which they live. This may be linked with the tendency to punish which is so often articulated by populist politicians.
If we accept that the real driver powering PbR is primarily ideological(some will disagree) and reflects a deeply ingrained belief that private provision is a more efficient, effective and profitable way to run our society and provide public services, this helps explains why it is being pushed so strongly by the current government.

]]> Comment on Public Punishment – the Facebook wall of shame by SFJD http://www.russellwebster.com/public-punishment-the-facebook-wall-of-shame/#comment-1862 SFJD Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:02:34 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/Blog/?p=592#comment-1862 Good post. I've also been fascinated by the increased appetite for public shaming of criminals. I'm glad we've become civilized to move beyond public torture and executions, but I think, in very limited circumstances, public shaming may be an effective means of punishment: http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2012/02/03/public-shaming-option-criminal-punishment/ Good post. I’ve also been fascinated by the increased appetite for public shaming of criminals. I’m glad we’ve become civilized to move beyond public torture and executions, but I think, in very limited circumstances, public shaming may be an effective means of punishment: http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2012/02/03/public-shaming-option-criminal-punishment/

]]> Comment on Second Commandment of PbR: First do no harm by hdjemil http://www.russellwebster.com/second-commandment-of-pbr-first-do-no-harm/#comment-1858 hdjemil Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:03:09 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/?p=1966#comment-1858 Russell Great blog. Essentially PbR is about designing a payment system not a system of care. It seems the coalition govt. want PbR in all aspects of social care and yet are happy to see financial services operate a Payment (regardless of) Results system Lets apply PbR to the banking system and to senior civil services bonuses where it might curb the current profligate culture of excess and lets keep the "CARE" in social care All the best Huseyin Russell

Great blog. Essentially PbR is about designing a payment system not a system of care. It seems the coalition govt. want PbR in all aspects of social care and yet are happy to see financial services operate a Payment (regardless of) Results system

Lets apply PbR to the banking system and to senior civil services bonuses where it might curb the current profligate culture of excess and lets keep the “CARE” in social care

All the best

Huseyin

]]> Comment on Talking about the iPlod generation by Ollie @ DietJustice http://www.russellwebster.com/talking-about-the-iplod-generation/#comment-1767 Ollie @ DietJustice Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:07:15 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/?p=1865#comment-1767 Superb article Russ, this is a wonderful snap shot of what we have achieved in recent years. Nice one mate. Superb article Russ, this is a wonderful snap shot of what we have achieved in recent years. Nice one mate.

]]> Comment on A virtual approach can mean real engagement by David Woods http://www.russellwebster.com/a-virtual-approach-can-mean-real-engagement/#comment-1759 David Woods Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:26:42 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/Blog/?p=170#comment-1759 Here in Hampshire we are really embracing Social media with neighbourhood officers being encouraged to engage through twitter This is one part of the Safer Neighboourhood Excellence Training we have been providing to our officers during a 3 day course. Our media managers are also carrying out short twitter training sessions at local stations. And you can find Hampshire's Officially recognised twitter acounts here: https://twitter.com/#!/HantsPolice/hampshire-constabulary/members Thanks David www.twitter.com/asbdw Here in Hampshire we are really embracing Social media with neighbourhood officers being encouraged to engage through twitter This is one part of the Safer Neighboourhood Excellence Training we have been providing to our officers during a 3 day course. Our media managers are also carrying out short twitter training sessions at local stations.

And you can find Hampshire’s Officially recognised twitter acounts here:
https://twitter.com/#!/HantsPolice/hampshire-constabulary/members

Thanks David
http://www.twitter.com/asbdw

]]> Comment on Shining a light on the potential of Payment by Results by barry Snelgrove http://www.russellwebster.com/shining-a-light-on-the-potential-of-payment-by-results/#comment-1758 barry Snelgrove Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:47:38 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/?p=1763#comment-1758 Indeed light was dramatically thrown on the subject ! Indeed light was dramatically thrown on the subject !

]]> Comment on How to get a day off work with Facebook by Zarathustra http://www.russellwebster.com/how-to-get-a-day-off-work-with-facebook/#comment-1622 Zarathustra Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:49:50 +0000 http://www.russellwebster.com/?p=1614#comment-1622 Ahhh, amazing how much of this sort of thing still circulates. Around the time of the August riots there were a couple of local ne'er-do-wells in my neck of the woods who decided to set up a "let's start a riot" Facebook page. 99% of the people who joined it did so just to troll the page, and the two instigators were picked up by the police the next day. Ahhh, amazing how much of this sort of thing still circulates.

Around the time of the August riots there were a couple of local ne’er-do-wells in my neck of the woods who decided to set up a “let’s start a riot” Facebook page. 99% of the people who joined it did so just to troll the page, and the two instigators were picked up by the police the next day.

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