APCC Chair attends serious violence summit
Today (1 April) the Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson OBE, has attended a serious youth violence summit in Downing Street, bringing together over 100 experts to tackle violent crime.
Speaking immediately after Monday’s opening session, Mr Burns-Williamson said:
“Police and Crime Commissioners have a critical role in tackling serious violence and I am pleased that, alongside myself, a number of my colleagues are engaged with the series of meetings taking place in Downing Street this week.
“Today’s meeting was an opportunity to hear more about the proposed public health approach to tackling knife crime and seeking views on a legal duty to collaborate. PCCs have long advocated a whole system approach with focused and properly resourced action across a range of areas, including youth services and public health and as local leaders we have a key role to play in co-ordinating activity and making this happen.
“We welcomed the further funding announced in the Spring Statement to help tackle serious violence and are helping to coordinate sustainable prevention and early intervention programmes in the areas of most need. We will continue to build a compelling case for increases in central police funding to increase resources and allow for further investment in crime prevention, in the forthcoming comprehensive spending review. This will be vital if we are to reduce crime over the longer-term and rebuild neighbourhood police teams across England and Wales who will be at the forefront of engaging with communities.”
Notes for editors
Last month the APCC published Serious Violence In Focus is a snapshot of the ground-breaking work that PCCs are engaged in with partners across England and Wales and gives excellent examples of how we are really making a positive difference for the public.