Serious Violence Strategy Scott McPherson Director General, CPFG 19 April
Strategy - Introduction On 9 April the Home Secretary published the Serious Violence Strategy to take action to address serious violence and in particular the recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide. The strategy stresses the importance of early intervention to tackle the root causes of serious violence and provide young people with the skills and resilience to lead productive lives free from violence. The strategy sets our response and outlines an ambitious programme involving over 60 commitments and actions. Our approach is not solely focused on law enforcement, very important as that is, but depends also on partnerships across a number of sectors such as education, health, social services, housing, youth services, victim services and others. The strategy sets out our response under four key themes: tackling county lines and misuse of drugs; early intervention and prevention; supporting communities and local partnerships; and effective law enforcement and criminal justice response.
What is happening to violent crime? Long-term trends in knife/gun crime and homicide ending June 2017 After a sustained fall from the early 2000s to 2014, some types of serious violent crime recorded by the police have shown increases in the last four years. For the year to Sept 2017: - Knife crime is up 21% Gun crime is up 20% Homicide is up 10% Whilst the majority of knife and gun crime and homicides is concentrated in urban areas, the increase is a national issue Homicide changes by country, 2008-14 and 2014-16 Change from 2008 to 2014 Change from 2014 to 2016 Eng. & Wales -22% 16% US -14% 22% Scotland -37% 3% Sweden 6% Canada -15% 17% France -21% 0% Germany -4% 15% Australia -8% -5% Denmark 9% -16% Finland n/a -23% Italy Spain -24% -10% Netherlands -18% Whilst ONS confirm some of the increase is down to better recording, we also believe some of the increases may be genuine. A deep dive on international trends in serious violence has revealed that several other nations are also seeing rises in serious violence.
What about victims and perpetrators? Offending peaks during early adulthood and then decreases with age. The increase in homicide has been driven by male-on-male cases involving acquaintances. Homicide victims were 70% male and suspects 90% male in 2016, and these proportions have increased as homicide has risen. Homicides of women and homicides involving intimate partners are continuing to fall. Homicides: Age of Principal Suspect Possession of article with a blade or point: offenders convicted or receiving a caution, and proportion aged 10-17 and 18-20, England & Wales, 2006-16 As the number of knife possession offenders has risen, so has the proportion of those aged under 20. For both victims and suspects, the peak age range is 20-29, and there are far more offenders aged 40+ than teenage offenders. However, teenage-perpetrated homicides have been important in driving the increase.
Tackling County Lines County Lines Action Plan published which will be taken forward through the County Lines Working Group. £3.6m to support development of a new National County Lines Co-ordination Centre. Nationwide awareness-raising communication activity about the threat of county lines. Additional support for young people at risk including funding to build upon Mentor UK’s ‘Unplugged’ feasibility study. New round of Heroin and Crack Action Areas. The Government’s Drugs Strategy 2017 sets out programme to reduce demand, restrict supply and support recovery.
Early Intervention and Prevention The strategy will build on what already exists, for example the Troubled Families Programme, DCMS and its Youth Investment Fund. The strategy sets out a range of work to support early intervention and prevention, including: a new Early Intervention Youth Fund. We will work with the DfE and Ofsted to explore what more can be done to support schools in England. Supporting Redthread to expand and pilot its Youth Violence Intervention Programme. Trusted Relationships Fund.
Communities and Local Partnerships Tackling serious violence requires a multi-agency response across a range of sectors. Effective local partnerships and local multi-agency working are at the heart of a successful approach. PCCs have a leading role to galvanise the local response and provide strategic focus to support this work. Anti-knife crime Community Fund to help communities tackle knife crime. EGVE local and regional reviews in England and Wales to respond to county lines and gang related problems. new media advertising campaign, #knifefree.
Law Enforcement / Criminal Justice Pursue, disrupt and prosecute those who commit serious violent crimes, enabling effective policing and criminal justice response. Stopping gang videos appearing on social media platforms. Offensive Weapons Bill. Supporting effective action through co-ordinated police action and development of new national capabilities. Develop police capability through the use of data analytics. Work with HMICFRS to ensure PEEL inspections focus on serious violence.
Governance The current Inter-Ministerial Group on Gangs will be refocused to an Inter-Ministerial Group on the Serious Violence Strategy. Cross sector Serious Violence Taskforce with a coalition of Government ministers, MPs, police, voluntary and public sector leaders. International Violent Crime Symposium.