Nottinghamshire Police awarded extra £880,000 to tackle knife crime over next 12 months

Yesterday, (February 9) the Government announced that a further £35.5 million would be awarded to Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) across the country in an effort to prevent further crime.

Nottinghamshire has received an investment of £880,000 to support the unit that was set up in 2019 to combat knife crime committed across the country.

So far, Nottinghamshire’s VRU which works with organisations across local communities, has provided ‘direct help’ to 1,547 young people according to the force, while reaching a further 142,000 young people through targeted social media posts to prevent criminality.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed that knife crime fell by four percent across the county in the year to September 2020 – a slightly higher reduction compared to the national average of three percent.

Director of Nottinghamshire VRU Dave Wakelin met with Policing Minister Kit Malthouse, the Home Office and other units in a virtual round table discussion yesterday (February 9) on the importance of working with the community to tackle serious violence.

"Clearly, we are delighted to have secured funding for another year to carry on the work with our communities to reduce serious violence and build on the extraordinary achievements of the past two years”, Mr Wakelin said.

"Through this funding, we will be able to continue our work to develop capacity in our communities and support young people.

"In the coming year, we also want to work more closely with the educational sector and alternative provision providers to learn more about how we can, in partnership, support those at risk of offending including and those who are vulnerable which is a top priority for the Minister and the Home Office.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping welcomed the additional funding.

"The VRU has become an integral part of the effort to reduce violence in Nottinghamshire and I warmly welcome this funding which will secure its activities for another 12 months", he added.

"The team continues to work with some of Nottinghamshire's most prolific offenders - members of street gangs who would be in prison without specialist intervention funded by the VRU. Many have embarked on education and training since agreeing to support, taking the first tentative steps to a life free of crime.

"The VRU is a shining example of how partner agencies can work collaboratively to tackle violence and achieve better outcomes for the vulnerable young people within their communities.

"Knife crime continues to fall in Nottinghamshire but we will not become complacent.

"There is much more to do."

Units support mentorship projects including the custody mentoring scheme U-Turn, which is delivered by The Inspire & Achieve Foundation (IAF), which helps young people aged 16 to 26 who have been arrested for various offences to move away from crime.

The project sees two full-time mentors, who have personal experience of the issues facing young offenders, working out of Nottingham's Bridewell and Mansfield custody suites to support young people arrested for violence.

So far, the scheme has supported 28 young people who have not re-offended and 21 of those have progressed into education, employment or training.

Sutton shopkeeper who fought off knife wielding robber praised by Nottinghamshire Police

Sutton dog owner praises vets who saved border collies poisoned by mouldy garden waste

Long queues on M1 after crash between Chesterfield and Mansfield

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.