Crest Advisory | Insights

Crest Insights

Hard thinking on crime and justice

Crest Insights is the think tank for the whole of the criminal justice system. Our mission is to do the hard thinking which drives policy reform, improves the operating environment for agencies and organisations which deliver policing, justice and public safety and so makes communities safer.

We’re independent, and have a non-party approach. Our research follows evidence, not agendas. Crest Insights targets priority problems and don’t shy away from sensitive subjects or difficult debates. We dig deeply into the data to ensure our findings are robust. We listen carefully to lived experiences, so our insights are relevant. And we explore public perceptions, so our policy recommendations are realistic.

Crest Insights does this by collaborating with organisations across the justice system and wider public sector, and with charities, academics and the private sector.

Projects and publications

NEW: Tony Blair Instistute for Global Change report on serious and organised crime, co-authored by our Director of Research Sophie Davis

Explore our recent Insights projects by theme. Click 'Read more' on each project box to find their associated reports and perspectives.

All Reports

Cutting the Head off the Snake:

Disrupting County Lines

Completed

Crest Advisory and Forensic Analytics considered the role played by technology in the criminal exploitation of children involved in ‘county lines’ drug gangs.

County Lines: Breaking the Cycle

Completed

This project, funded by the Hadley Trust, studied the lives of 13 children and young people and their involvement in county lines drug dealing.

County Lines and Looked After Children

Completed

Funded by the Hadley Trust, Crest examined the criminal exploitation of looked after children in two police force areas.

Trauma-Informed Practices in Youth Justice and Serious Violence Prevention

Ongoing

Our research aims to understand how trauma-informed approaches are applied across different stages of the youth justice system. Supported by the Hadley Trust.

Crime and Justice Analyst Network

Ongoing

A community for analysts to develop best practice, share lessons learned and build connections with other analysts from across the criminal justice system. Supported by the Hadley Trust.

Joined Up Justice

Completed

In partnership with CGI, we are exploring the potential for digital solutions to make criminal justice system processes more efficient and improve the experience for those involved.

Out-of-court disposals and diversion at the ‘front end’

Completed

Following our research into Covid-19 and the criminal justice system, Crest carried out research to understand how out-of-court disposals can be used to reduce pressure on the courts - and deal more effectively with offenders.

Drivers of Serious Violence: Phase 1

Completed

Crest set out to equip policy-makers, Police and Crime Commissioners and chief constables with a suite of practical policy recommendations for combating serious violence.

Drivers of Serious Violence: Phase 2

Completed

The research explored the importance of social media and digital technologies as a driver of violence and to equip policymakers with a suite of evidence-based and practical recommendations for tackling the problem.

Tackling online fraud

Ongoing

Funded by the Dawes Trust, and in partnership with Birkbeck University and the Police Foundation, we are conducting research to establish a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of online fraud.

Research into online fraud against children and young people

Ongoing

Crest Advisory is partnering with the City of London Police to research online fraud against children and young people aged 10 to 21 in England and Wales. This research has been funded by Science and Technology in Policing (STAR).

Rethinking counter extremism

Ongoing

Funded by the Hofenung Foundation, and in partnership with Dame Sara Khan, we are hosting a series of roundtables to discuss the contemporary extremist threat landscape in the UK, the merits and limitations of existing government policy and practical approaches to tackling extremism.

Policing Extremism

Completed

Crest explored how “extremism” is policed through the prisms of different offences.

Serious Violence lead, the
Home Office

“The most comprehensive analysis I’ve seen on serious violence.”

How we work

Methods

The quality of our research underpins everything that Crest Insights does. Our core research team applies the highest standards of evidence and ethics in everything we do.

Our findings and recommendations are tested by senior advisors with real world experience of the problems and issues they address.

Funding

We’re housed within Crest Advisory and operate on a not-for-profit basis. The rates we charge cover the direct and indirect costs of producing and publishing research.

Our projects are funded by charitable trusts and foundations, individual donors, and sponsorship from partners to the justice system whose mission and values align to ours.

These are declared transparently in our reports.

We receive additional support from Crest Consulting, whose work for clients across policing and justice draws on the evidence and insights we generate - maximising their real world impact.