Tackling serious violent crime is a key priority for councils. This has become even more vital due to the rising levels of this type of crime and the harm it causes to victims and communities, as well as the young people and vulnerable adults drawn and exploited into committing it.
Key messages
- Law enforcement and criminal justice measures are only part of the response needed to tackle serious violent crime. A multi-agency partnership approach is required, working across Government departments and all agencies, including local government, health, education, social services, charities, youth services and practitioners.
- We support the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of taking a public health approach to reducing violent crime. This approach aims to consider the underlying causes of the issue, and identify risk factors which can then be addressed.
- By identifying the early indicators and risk factors of serious violence, this can help key agencies to implement the right interventions and divert individuals away from violent crime. This requires a greater investment in early intervention and prevention initiatives.
- Councils need sustainable, long-term funding commitments to ensure that they can develop programmes that will consistently protect and care for our communities, particularly those that are vulnerable.
- Whilst new Government funds to address serious violence are welcome, this should not replace the core funding required to support integral local government services.
- Councils are currently face a funding gap of £8 billion by 2025, of which £3.1 billion is attributed to children’s services. We have called for this funding gap to urgently be addressed in the Government’s upcoming Spending Review.
Download the full briefing
LGA response to the Government’s consultation on taking a multi-agency approach to tackling and preventing serious violent crime