The Deputy PCC informed the Panel that the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) brought together key partners from across Thames Valley to provide a co-ordinated response to tackling serious violence across the region.

This multi-agency approach involved local authorities, education, policing, health, third sector organisations and members of the community, all working together to understand the root causes of serious violence and focussing on place-based problem solving in order to address them.

The VRU took a public health approach to tackling violence by looking at violence, not as isolated incidents or as a law enforcement problem, but instead as a preventable consequence of a range of factors such as adverse early-life experiences or harmful social or community experiences and influences.

Thames Valley’s VRU focussed on four main themes:

·       Supporting communities and partnerships

·       Early intervention and prevention

·       Tackling county lines and the misuse of drugs

·       Effective law enforcement and the criminal justice response

The Panel was informed in 2019 the OPCC received £1.16m to support the introduction of the VRU and this funding was renewed in March 2020 with an additional £1.16m.

Details of short and long-term activities and interventions which were being delivered by the VRU were provided in the report.

Reference was made to knife crime being down 6% from last year and at its lowest level since 2016. Personal robbery was down 23% and there was a positive outcome rate for Violence with Injury is up 23%.

The Panel was informed that the VRU worked with data from the Police, local authorities and the NHS to enable the identification of key locations and times of serious violence to inform prevention and enforcement activity. A dashboard was available for the Police to link data from all agencies.

There was a Thames Valley wide Drugs Diversion Scheme in place providing specialist support for people found in possession of drugs to prevent prosecution and break the cycle of re-offending.  Enhanced information sharing network had been established to help safeguard young people identified as at risk of exploitation through County Lines.

Questions

1.       In relation to violent crime which took place as a result of County-Lines which crossed Police Force boundaries; the Deputy PCC was asked what collaborative work took place with other VRUs to ensure consistency in approach?         

[The Panel was informed that there was a National County-Lines Co-ordination Centre which had been established which ensured a joined-up approach to cross-boundary crimes. In addition, the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit ensured a consistent collaborative approach to these crimes.]

2.       The Deputy PCC was asked about gaining consent from health partners for data and what challenges did this bring.

[This could be challenging at times, particularly as Thames Valley covered three counties which consisted of a number of different health trusts. There had to be a view taken on sharing data in relation to balancing patient confidentiality against prevention of crime.]

3.       How much of the work of the VRU is fed back to Community Safety Partnerships?

[The Chief Constable reported that this was done, however, this could be improved, particularly in relation to the Safer Oxfordshire Partnership.]

4.            What work is taking place with the important community groups who are often the key to preventing violent crime such as gang and knife crime?

[The Deputy PCC referred to the work which took place with MK Dons and Oxford United Football Clubs in terms of working with young people, but he acknowledged that more work needed to be done with community groups.]

RESOLVED – That the Deputy PCC be thanked for the presentation and the information in the report be noted.