£3 million cash boost for West Midlands police unit tackling violent crime
A police programme in the West Midlands dedicated to tackling violent crime has received more than £3 million in government funding.
The Violence Reduction Unit, which aims to tackle the root causes of crime amid a surge on the region's streets, will now be able to continue through to April 2021.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) David Jamieson, who was handed the £3.37m of funding from the Home Office, said: "Securing funding for another year is testament to the strong work already underway by the Violence Reduction Unit.
"To prevent violence we have been investing in a variety of initiatives, including activities for young people, mentoring schemes and youth workers in A and E departments to help break the cycle of violence. This funding will help continue the unit’s work.
"Whilst this funding is welcomed by all in the West Midlands, the Government needs to know that a real long term funding solution is still very much needed and government also needs to give PCCs and Violence Reduction Units the flexibility to spend this money effectively on prevention and policing responses."
It comes amid a rise in knife crime across the West Midlands – with 3,210 serious offences involving a blade, along with 50 murders, recorded last year.
The figures marked the highest levels recorded for a decade.
Dr Sue Ibbotson, director of Public Health England (PHE) in the West Midlands, said: "Violence is preventable, not inevitable.
"By taking a public health approach, agencies across the region can work together to understand and address the causes of violence, and reduce it.
"This must however be a sustained effort, so we are very grateful to the Home Office for this additional funding, which will help us to continue the excellent work being done by the West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit."
