Knife Crime Strategy: Protecting Lives, Building Hope

Last month the Government published its knife crime strategy, Protecting Lives, Building Hope. The strategy sets out Government plans to halve knife crime over the next decade. Essex VVU, as part of the national Violence Reduction Unit programme (led by the Home Office) has shared learning from Essex to inform the strategy. Central to the strategy is that a ‘public health’ approach to reducing violence, which Essex VVU Partnership deliver, works.

The strategy recognises the need to combine prevention, targeted intervention and enforcement, in order to create sustained, long-term reductions in knife crime rather than short-term gains.  

Next week is Knife Crime Awareness Week and alongside our partners, Essex VVU will be taking part in activity to raise awareness and educate on the dangers of knife harm.

While knife crime is reducing across the county, knife harm remains one of the top concerns for young people in Essex, and although progress has been made, continued collaboration is essential to maintain reductions and keep communities safe.

Since 2019/20, knife crime across Essex has been sustainably reduced, with reductions in knife crime of over 25% and over 50% reduction in young people entering hospital accident and emergency departments with knife related injuries. These outcomes demonstrate that alongside enforcement and education, early targeted intervention is an effective tool for preventing violence and keeping communities safe.