Tackling serious violence – how PCCs are making a difference
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners has published “Serious Violence In Focus” which highlights a series of the ground breaking initiatives that PCCs have commissioned to tackle the scourge of violence crime across England and Wales.
APCC Chair and Serious Violence Lead, Mark Burns-Williamson PCC said:
“We have seen significant rises in knife and violent crime across the country, particularly involving children and young people, resulting on too many occasions in the tragic loss of life.
“Our police do an extremely important job in protecting our communities and carrying out robust enforcement against offenders, but it is ultimately through early intervention and prevention work that we can most effectively tackle knife crime and serious violence.
“Nearly a year on from the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy, PCCs are stepping up and implementing a whole series of community safety initiatives. Some of these are driven and fully funded locally, and many others have been developed alongside partnership organisations or supported through the Home Office’s Early Intervention Youth Fund. With additional funding to tackle violent and knife crime announced in the Spring Statement, PCCs will help to coordinate sustainable prevention and early intervention programmes in the areas of most need.
“Whilst we are well placed to adapt and lead local responses to tackling serious violence, we know that, in order to have the greatest impact, a whole system approach is needed. We need to see focused and properly resourced action across a range of areas, including youth services and public health, and as local leaders PCCs have a vital role to play in co-ordinating and making this happen.
"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.”
Read: Serious Violence In Focus