Police commissioner welcomes extra cash to tackle violent crime

A PROMISE to fund projects to tackle violent crime is a step in the right direction, a Yorkshire crime commissioner says, as incidents of such crimes rose to record highs in parts of the county.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has confirmed an additional £35m towards tackling the root causes of violent crime nationwide, including nearly £5m for projects in West and South Yorkshire.

These violence reduction units involve groups from health organisations and community leaders working together to support those at risk. Welcoming the announcement, West Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson said the money would help further a commitment to tackle the problem.

“Serious violence and knife crime have affected many of our town and cities across West Yorkshire,” said Mr Burns-Williamson, who is also the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ Portfolio Lead on Serious Violence.

“That’s why this investment is an important step in the right direction to enable us to bring multiple agencies together to help cut violence with early intervention, prevention and education programmes and measures.”

Reducing violence is a longterm challenge that will take years to make a lasting impact, Mr Burns-Williamson admitted last month, as stark figures revealed soaring rates in the county.

Violent crime rose to a new record high in West Yorkshire, it emerged in November, with 280 incidents recorded each day.

West Yorkshire Police recorded a total of 102,172 cases of violence against the person in 2018 – the highest number since records began in 2007.

Meanwhile, the number of serious crimes involving knives or other sharp objects was also at the highest level for any single year since 2011.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced £35m in funding in August for 18 police and crime commissioners to set up the specialist units to tackle violent crime in their area.

The model, sometimes described as a public health approach to crime, has had success in reducing violence rates in Glasgow over the past decade.

In some of the units, virtual reality technology is being used to warn young people of the dangers of serious violence, while in others community leaders have being placed in A&E departments to support them at their most vulnerable.

In West Yorkshire, funding has gone into early intervention, partly through a scheme with Safer Leeds which uses football and mentoring to promote well-being and strengthen communities.

In South Yorkshire meanwhile, one of the primary projects has been with schools in Sheffield and Barnsley, aimed at insulating children from the trauma of domestic violence.

Ms Patel has announced an additional £3.3m to tackle violent crime in West Yorkshire, and £1.6m for South Yorkshire.

The Home Secretary said: “I will not tolerate criminals drawing vulnerable young people into a life of violence. We are delivering on the people’s priorities by recruiting 20,000 new police officers and introducing tougher sentences to keep offenders behind bars for longer, but agencies must also work together to tackle this issue head on.

“These units are already playing a vital role in diverting young people away from crime.”

Investment is an important step to bring agencies together.

West Yorkshire police and crime commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson.