This case study of Operation Modulus, an innovative violence and anti-social behaviour intervention aimed at a gang of young people. It shows how partnership, co-production and an outcome-focus can be successfully put into practice, and demonstrates that leadership is an additional essential element of successfully ‘operationalising Christie’.

Summary

As part of its exploration of public service reform What Works Scotland carried out an evaluation of Operation Modulus, a highly successful, innovative, award-winning violence and anti-social behaviour intervention targeted at a gang of young people in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, exploring why it was such a success.

The aim of this case study was not to focus on how best to tackle issues related to young people and crime, but rather to show how the principles of public service reform as highlighted by the Christie Commission can best be operationalised.

Operation Modulus is an exemplar of such reform, demonstrating what it means for public services in Scotland to put Christie into practice. What Works Scotland worked with some of the key individuals involved with Operation Modulus to identify what worked with developing and implementing the programme, and to draw out the lessons for wider public services in terms of what made it a success.

The intervention prioritised prevention and resulted in the reduction of costs, with very significant savings to be expected in housing, criminal justice, health and other public services. Partnership, co-production and an outcome-focus are foundational to the Christie Commission. This case study shows how these can be successfully put into practice.

The role of leadership, and of leadership style, is underplayed in Christie. This evidence demonstrates that leadership is an additional essential element of successfully ‘operationalising Christie’.

Download the publication

Operation Modulus: putting Christie into practice in the Gorbals (PDF)

More details

Authors: Richard Brunner and Nick Watson

Publication date: March 2016

Type of publication: Case study

Related resources

A backstage pass: Operation Modulus and the case study approach
Blog post in which Richard Brunner explains ‘why do a case study’ and ‘what others can learn from what happened in one local area’.