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 and 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.

Serious Violence lead, the
Home Office

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

Projects and publications

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.

Policing Extremism

Completed

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

Understanding the lessons of policing the Covid-19 pandemic

Completed

Crest and the Police Foundation teamed up to examine how policing coped with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stop and Search: The Evidence

Completed

Crest sought to address the research gap in the use of stop and search powers specifically examining attitudes towards their use within Black communities.

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.

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 draws on our evidence and insights.