New funding to prevent serious violence and knife crime in the Thames Valley region
Serious violence and knife crime is falling in the Thames Valley, but further work and funding is needed to prevent it, writes Bethany Sirianni.
Police and crime commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber has awarded £1.8m of Home Office funding to local partners to help tackle serious violence in the Thames Valley.
The funding is made up of two grants; the Serious Violence Duty Grant and the Violence Reduction Unit Grant will be administered by the PCC.
Mr Barber said: “There is no single solution to preventing serious violence.
“Its impact on individuals and communities can be devastating and we continue to work collaboratively as part of the Violence Prevention Partnership to try to address root causes and support those most at risk.
“The funding awarded to partners across the Thames Valley aims to deliver against our shared goal to reduce violence in our communities and stop our young people being drawn into offending.”
The PCC has allocation funding for the following programmes as well as other important projects:
£500,000 to deliver focused diversion activity to divert and support young people at risk of becoming involved as well as helping parents to recognise the signs.
£210,000 to extend the delivery of the Operation Deter Youth programme for under 18s to the end of March 2026.
£225,000 to Thames Valley Police to deliver a Focused Deterrence programme via Harm Reduction Units for high harm, habitual knife carriers.