APCC response to Home Affairs Select Committee report on Serious Youth Violence
Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Serious Violence Lead, Mark Burns-Williamson OBE said:
“We welcome the focus this report gives to the importance of highlighting and tackling violence in our communities. We have seen a significant rise in serious violence, in both urban and rural parts of the country, often gang and drug related, with children and young people the victims of gun and knife crime, resulting, on too many occasions, in the tragic loss of life and life changing injuries.
“Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have long advocated a whole-system approach and we are currently helping to shape future partnership working focused on tackling serious violence by establishing a violence reduction approach across England and Wales. We actively support more preventative measures to help tackle issues that our communities, and particularly our young people, are facing.
“PCCs welcome the proposed investment to support the recruitment of 20,000 new police officers. We know this is what the public want and the APCC will work, as part of the new national Policing Board, to ensure the successful recruitment of these new officers in our communities.
“Whilst investment this year to establish Violence Reduction Units is welcome, reducing violence is a long-term challenge requiring sustained investment and funding across all forces. We will continue our work to ensure a better and more sustainable policing settlement, for all PCCs and forces in meeting the challenges head on as local leaders which the report recognises.
“We also want to see a reinvigoration of Community Safety Partnerships and steps taken to address youth service provision and the significant rise in school exclusions which PCCs have already highlighted supported by some of the recommendations set out in the report.”