Plans for Leicestershire’s Violence Reduction Network, presented by Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach and the Network’s Director Grace Strong, were welcomed by the Police and Crime Panel at its scrutiny meeting held yesterday at County Hall.
After the meeting Willy Bach said: “I’ve lobbied long and hard for additional resources to tackle violent crime. In response, the Government has awarded us nearly £900,000 to create a Violence Reduction Network (VRN) in Leicestershire.
“Today, we presented our plans for our Network to the Police and Crime Panel and I was pleased to see that they were received so positively.
“The VRN is focussed on bringing together organisations from across the county to achieve a reduction in violent behaviour, particularly amongst the under 25s. I have always believed that you cannot solve society’s problems by enforcement alone and I think that this inclusive approach, proven successful in Scotland, will deliver the results we all want to see.
“The tragic events last weekend on the St. Matthews Estate, Leicester, when a young man lost his life as a result of a stab wound, provided a stark reminder of the challenges we face. Too many lives have already been ruined as a result of knife crime and other serious violence.
“I visited the St. Matthews Tenant’s Association along with my Deputy, Kirk Master, on Monday. We talked with community leaders and assured them that the VRN is committed to working with the local community. It is crucial that we all work together to do as much as we can to prevent young people from thinking that violence is a way of life. Prevention is key to this.
“The sense of shock and grief in the St Matthews’ Community is palpable. I know that the police are doing everything they can to bring those responsible to justice as quickly as possible and I urge anyone with information to come forward.”
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Posted on Wednesday 25th September 2019