BOURNEMOUTH will be getting a violence reduction unit (VRU), it has been announced in the spring budget.
The unit brings together partners to reduce violent crime while also addressing the underlying causes of those crimes, including knife crime.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his spring budget that £75m will be funded across England and Wales, including a portion for Dorset.
Mr Hunt said: “Violence reduction units and hot spot policing have prevented an estimated 136,000 knife crimes and other violent offences as well as over 3,000 hospital admissions.”
Dorset’s police and crime commissioner David Sidwick has been campaigning for a VRU to come to the county.
Mr Sidwick said: “I welcome the Government’s announcement over the roll-out of Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) in England and Wales.
“Since I came to office in 2021, I have been tirelessly campaigning and, with the support of our MPs, lobbying hard for a VRU in Dorset.
"While we have a low rate of knife crime in our county, there is no room for complacency while young people continue to pick up knives to protect themselves.
“Early intervention is key to tackling violent crime among young people and we need to make sure the right services are provided at the right time.
"A VRU will ensure we can bring together a broad church of expertise and multi-agency working. I look forward to receiving further details about the announced roll-out in due course.”
Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood added: “After much lobbying, I’m delighted the chancellor has agreed to my request to fund a police crime reduction unit in Bournemouth.
“These are proven police programmes, up and running in other parts of the country with a real track record of success in tackling the worrying rise in youngsters choosing to carry knives in public leading to too many tragic cases of loss of life.
“This has unit will see dedicated police officers in our streets and greater engagement with schools and community leaders to challenge the growing peer pressure in some quarters to carry a knife in public.”
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