Roger Hirst welcomes extra £1.16 million of government funding to tackle serious violence

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, has today welcomed the government’s decision to award Essex a further £1.16 million to help tackle violent crime.

Speaking following the announcement, Roger Hirst said, “We are working hard in Essex to tackle violence in our communities and are well ahead of other areas of the country. We have already created a Violence and Vulnerability Unit which this funding will support, have invested in a range of activities for young people at risk and strengthened our enforcement activities.

“This further funding will allow us to invest more in activities and interventions that stop the vulnerable being drawn into a life of crime. By investing in programmes that work in hospitals, within families and with partners across the county we are reaching out and tackling the root causes of gang activity while also robustly dealing with those who commit offences.“

The additional funding comes after Essex was awarded £664,000 from the Home Office’s Early Intervention Youth Fund in November 2018 to tackle the complex issues of serious violence, youth exploitation and gangs. The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner provided £200,000 and Essex County Council has also allocated £500,000 to support the work.

Example of programmes currently being funded includes:

·       Working across all of the county to deliver high level interventions to those at risk, using mentoring and diversionary activities.

·       Interventions in hospitals at ‘teachable moments’ with workers identifying vulnerable young people and providing support at the point of need.

·       Supporting young people in Southend through trauma informed therapeutic intervention.

·       In Thurrock, working with schools, to provide tailored support to children at risk of permanent exclusion.

Please follow the link here to read the Home Office announcement.