The LIFE SMART Waste project has published a new report entitled “Barriers to Joint Working: Issues affecting joint working in tackling crime”.
This project, working in tackling waste crime, is an EU funded project led by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, ACR+ member Brussels Environment and ACR+. The aims of the project are to improve our understanding of waste crime and enhance the design and effectiveness of interventions to tackle and reduce this harm.
In order to achieve meaningful and effective partnerships, it is necessary to overcome the common barriers that have a detrimental effect on such collaborations. Identifying these barriers, between partner types and at national and international levels, is the first stage in overcoming them and is the aim of this report.
The findings of this report categories these issues into various themes: People - which explores knowledge, behaviour and skills; Structures – which considers issues with group structures; Processes; Resources – which identifies a number of issues including money, time, staff and information; and finally External Influences – which explores issues with cultural differences, political and organisational priorities.
Of the various barriers that emerged, the three most significant common ones were: data exchange and sharing of intelligence; lack of knowledge/understanding of the roles, powers and responsibilities of partner organisations; and organisational priorities and their fluidity.
For more information on the LIFE SMART Waste project: www.lifesmartwaste.com
