Liverpool is launching a ‘Serious Violence Reduction Plan’ to further reduce major violent crime in the city. The blueprint is designed to tackle the issue across a range of sectors, including prisons, education, probation, emergency services and the voluntary and community sector. Launching on 11 March, the plan will focus on four priorities: education, families, underlying causes, and youth services. The city has already seen some success in reducing major violent crime, thanks to efforts to encourage young people away from crime and disrupt organised crime operations. The new plan aims to build on this progress.
Between October 2022 and September 2023, Liverpool saw a dramatic reduction in major violent crime, including murders, shootings, gun crime and knife crime. The number of murders in the city reduced by 87%, with a 29% fall in knife crime, a 42% drop in gun crime, and a 48% fall in the number of shootings. Cases of violence resulting in injury fell by 12%. Despite these achievements, the plan’s creators acknowledge that all violent crime needs to be tackled as a priority.
Local government councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, who chairs the Citysafe Board and is also Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Housing in Liverpool, said that recent shocking murders in the area had strengthened the city’s determination to reduce major violent crime. She said that the plan would inform, co-ordinate, promote and govern work and resources to reduce violent crime to zero. The half-yearly Serious Violence Community Forum will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders and partners to engage and network around the plans.
The new plan will focus on four key areas: families, education, youth services, and underlying causes of violent crime. Proposed solutions include supporting parents to identify risks of violent crime, reviewing educational resources, increasing training schemes for youth workers, improving drug treatment and disrupting drug supply chains. By addressing violent crime on a wide range of fronts, Liverpool hopes to build on the success it has already seen
Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More