10 Dec 2018
Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners have come together to secure funding to tackle the root causes of serious violence crime, through early intervention and prevention.
In April 2018, the Government published its Serious Violence Strategy, setting out its commitment to provide funding over 2 years for a new Early Intervention Youth fund. The fund was open to all Police and Crime Commissioners to bid for funding to support targeted early interventions and prevention activity.
Last month, the Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced that a joint bid from all four Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables was one of 29 successful bids for funding from the Early Intervention Youth Fund. £1.2m will be received across Wales, over two years, to help tackle the root causes of serious violence, through early intervention and prevention.
Each Police & Crime Commissioner will work with key partners, to deliver intervention and prevention methods at a local level, identified and based on local need. A Serious Violence Prevention Co-ordinator will be appointed within each of the four Force areas, who will work with their counterparts to co-ordinate four key approaches:
- One to one direct intervention and holistic approaches;
- Positive activities to develop resilience and offer alternative pathways;
- Education and awareness; and
- Family intervention.
Welcoming the successful bid, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys, Dafydd Llywelyn said: “I am committed to ensuring that Dyfed-Powys Police continues to target serious crime through early intervention, and this funding will allow for a multi-agency approach to understanding and tackling the root causes of serious violence through early intervention and prevention, focusing on localised, targeted interventions with young people.
With the increase in County Line activity across the country, it is anticipated that serious violence will continue to rise in Dyfed-Powys. The above, as well as other force activity, aims to tackle serious crimes before they become a significant problem in Dyfed-Powys. My office continues to work with Dyfed-Powys Police to monitor the situation and tackle the root cause of serious violence.”
