Mansfield MP welcomes extra £880,000 funding to tackle knife crime

Nottinghamshire is to receive the extra money from the Government to tackle serious violence and knife crime over the next 12 months.

Knife crime across the county continues to fall with latest figures showing a four per cent drop – outstripping a national reduction of three per cent and the regional increase of two per cent.

The county’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has already provided direct help to 1,547 young people, while reaching a further 142,000 young people through targeted social media. The funding will see this work continue.

Mansfield MP Ben Bradley has welcomed the news and hopes the funding will help to keep communities safe.

He said: “It’s really positive news that Nottinghamshire will receive an extra £880,000 to tackle violent crime that can lead young people onto the wrong path in life.

“This funding will help bring together organisations across our community to tackle violent crime and address its underlying causes, as well as funding vital local projects that do positive preventative work with children and young people.

“As chairman of Blue Collar Conservatism, I’ve been pushing Government to continue to back our police with the funding, powers and resources they need.

"I’m delighted that ministers are clearly listening and taking steps to keeping the public and communities safe.

"I know that this news will be warmly welcomed by everyone across Mansfield and Warsop.”

Paddy Tipping, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, added: "Knife crime continues to fall in Nottinghamshire but we will not become complacent. There is much more to do."