Knife Crime Awareness Week

As Knife Crime Awareness Week (18–24 May) begins, Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (Essex VVU) is shining a light on the importance of listening to young people and working with them to prevent knife harm.

Since its inception in 2019, Essex VVU has brought over £11m into Essex to invest in local delivery. The investments made through the programme bring 3.5 times more benefit than they cost, by keeping young people away from crime. This preventative approach is working and making a difference.

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

Ros spoke to Roger Hirst, PFCC for Essex and chair of the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Partnership.