Boost for project to reduce violent crime
A partnership working to reduce violent crime and provide opportunities for young people in Sussex has been given funding to continue for another three years.
The Home Office has provisionally allocated the money to the Sussex Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) - a collaboration between Sussex Police, Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Public Health England, the NHS, the Probation Service and others.
In West Sussex the VRP is behind the Schools and Exclusions Project, providing specialist support for young people at risk of serious violence, exploitation or permanent exclusion from school. It helps young people, parents and school staff to challenge aggressive behaviour and develop the skills to resolve conflict.
The project team also work with local partners and the community in a coordinated way to prevent gang exploitation, anti-social behaviour and crime.
Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “The continued and welcome support from the Home Office is unprecedented. It demonstrates both the effectiveness of our VRP in addressing serious violent crime in Sussex and its greater understanding about who is most affected and where resources should be deployed.
“The partnership acknowledges that serious violence is never a series of isolated incidents and its proactive approach in understanding the complexity of violent crime allows for safer communities and provides the opportunity for real change in young people’s lives.”
Detective Superintendent Stuart Hale from Sussex Police said: “I am delighted the Sussex VRP has secured this renewed funding to sustain its vital intervention work and offer young people a positive future.
“Tackling violence is not solely about arresting and prosecuting individuals. We know the best time to stop violent crime is before it starts.”
Tanya Mackay, Sussex VRP Project Manager, said: “This funding gives us a stable platform to support young people over the next three years. It offers us a further opportunity to address the driving forces behind youth violence and to work with vulnerable young people, giving them choices and opportunities that will help them to avoid and reject violence.
“Violent crime is preventable – not inevitable.”