A NEW plan has been launched to prevent and reduce violence across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has introduced the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) which brings together with 25 partner agencies from across the two counties to try and tackle the root causes of violence.

The partner agencies include the NHS, Probation, Youth Justice, policing, local authorities, education, and the fire service.

Ms Jones said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, I chair the serious violence reduction board and through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 the Serious Violence Duty was introduced.

“This is a requirement for both police forces and criminal justice partners to do everything that they can, working with local authorities, to reduce serious violence. My job is ensuring that all those that have this requirement are fulfilling their statutory duty." 

The Serious Violence Duty makes councils and local services work together to share information and target interventions to prevent and reduce serious violence.

She continued: “We all know the devastating and tragic consequences that violence has on individuals, families, and communities. Everyone deserves to live their lives free from violence and the fear of violence.

"Serious violence is a complex issue so this partnership approach is vital because the police alone cannot prevent serious violence. The collective responsibility enables all the agencies involved to come together to bring about positive change and safer neighbourhoods.”

Chief Constable Scott Chilton said: “Serious violence is one of the key priorities for the force and the damage it causes has to stop. Our communities are telling us they want their people protected and kept safe from harm. We can do this by working together within the Violence Reduction Partnership.”

Chief fire officer Neil Odin said: “We have built strong relationships within the local communities we serve and are well positioned to play a key role within the local Violence Reduction Partnership.

“Safeguarding is a core function of HIWFRS, supporting and in some cases leading in risk reduction activities to those identified as being vulnerable and at risk from serious violence, exploitation, or abuse.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner’s Violence Reduction Unit supports the VRP. It delivers projects and interventions for under 25s steering them away from knife crime, serious violence and exploitation throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.