West Yorkshire violent crime taskforce wins £3.3m in Government funding

West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has been awarded the funding to continue in its efforts to tackle serious violent crime during 2021/22.

Through its public health-led approach, it brings together organisations across local communities to tackle the underlying causes of violence offences. It also helps fund vital local projects that undertake positive preventative work with children and young people.

The funding announcement was welcomed by West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, who is also national lead for tackling serious violence for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.

Mark Burns-Williamson said the announcement means the VRU will be able to "continue to invest in projects, which support young people in particular, diverting them away from violence, harm and exploitation".

He added: "Robust police enforcement is important in bringing violent offenders to justice and protecting communities, but when partners come together, recognising what can be achieved by adopting a wider public-health approach, we can also address some of the longer-term underlying issues and prevent violence in the first place with effective early intervention measures.

"It still remains though that there is a real need for longer term funding over the next Comprehensive Spending Review period from Government to ensure a sustained impact on reducing violence for years to come."

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Now into its second year, the VRU draws on the expertise of specialists from health, police, local authorities, education, youth justice, prisons, probation, community groups and others.

Up to March 2020, it had commissioned 35 local violence reduction interventions and engaged with more than 16,000 people aged under 25.

Chief Superintendent Jackie Marsh, the unit's director, said: "There are so many fantastic local projects and interventions already underway that rely upon sustained financial support though the VRU and this announcement will ensure we can keep moving towards our collective goal of keeping people safe and seeing fewer victims.

"For our young people in particular, it allows them to receive the necessary education and support that will help to change behaviours and experiences of violent crime in the long term.

"Only last week was it reported that knife crime in West Yorkshire had fallen nearly 12 per cent since the launch of Operation Jemlock, which works shoulder to shoulder with the VRU to specifically target serious violent crime.

She said future plans include looking at the risk and vulnerability exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with ongoing research projects revolving around education inclusion and social inequalities, which are key.

"We also understand that additional Government funding is also to be made available under a ‘winter contingency package’ that can be delivered through VRUs to local charities and social enterprises, supporting vulnerable young people at risk of involvement in violence through the lockdown period," she added.

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