LEPH Link

LEPH Link has been developed to support a public health approach to policing

LEPH (Law Enforcement and Public Health) Link is designed to support front line officers with access to the public health information they need at the click of a button. LEPH Link is a bespoke Public Health resources assist police officers to raise awareness, motivate and signpost people to help them to improve their health and wellbeing.

Public health approaches start from the principle that prevention is better than cure. A core role of the police service is to prevent crime, and the phrase “you can’t arrest your way out of…” is often used.  Public health approaches often use a three tier model which recognises that there are opportunities to be preventative even after a problem has emerged:

• primary prevention is preventing the problem occurring in the first place;
• secondary prevention is intervening early when the problem starts to emerge to prevent it becoming established; and
• tertiary prevention is making sure an ongoing problem is well managed to avoid crises and reduce its harmful consequences

LEPH Link utilises the MECC approach

A MECC approach is one that is succinct, encompassing the 'Ask, Assist, Act' approach. It incorporates elements of behavioral science to support Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation for behavioral change (COM-B). Moreover, it consolidates all necessary components in a single location.

But....what is different for LEPH Link?

• The content is designed to support the type of interactions front policing have in day to day interactions with the public i.e. substance misuse, migrant health, modern slavery, sex work and child sexual exploitation. More topics are being developed and added.

For further information please contact chris.sharp@dhsc.gov.uk