Policy paper

Serious Violence Strategy

The Serious Violence Strategy sets out the government’s response to serious violence and recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide.

Documents

Serious Violence Strategy

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Serious Violence Strategy (Welsh)

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Details

Law enforcement is a very important part of the Serious Violence Strategy, but it also looks at the root causes of the problem and how to support young people to lead productive lives away from violence.

Action in the strategy is centred on 4 main themes:

  • tackling county lines and misuse of drugs
  • early intervention and prevention
  • supporting communities and local partnerships
  • law enforcement and the criminal justice response

The strategy describes a range of initiatives including:

  • a new £11 million Early Intervention Youth Fund to support communities for early intervention and prevention with young people for 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020
  • the development of a new National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to tackle violent and exploitative criminal activity associated with county lines
  • funding to help deliver a new round of heroin and crack action areas
  • more rounds of the anti-knife crime Community Fund of up to £1 million for 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020
  • more funding for young people’s advocates working with gang-affected young women and girls

The strategy focuses on early intervention and prevention which can help catch young people before they go down the wrong path, encouraging them to make positive choices.

The strategy is supported by a media campaign raising awareness about the risks of carrying knives.

Published 9 April 2018
Last updated 20 June 2018 + show all updates
  1. Added a Welsh version.

  2. First published.