£600,000 investment agreed to tackle knife crime by West Mercia Police
It's all part of the 'Safer West Mercia Plan'.
A project to help young people steer clear of knife crime receives more than half a million pounds from Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.
As part of the PCC’s commitment to break the cycle of crime, as set out in his Safer West Mercia Plan, The Children’s Society Award-winning Steer Clear project has received additional financial support to help stop young people being criminalised and to reduce the number of homicides across West Mercia.
The £600,000 investment will help group workshops and 1:1 sessions, continue across West Mercia to give young people between the ages of 10 and 17 a safe space to talk about their involvement in knife crime and make a change. This support will be offered once a referral is made, with a multi-agency approach being taken to ensure the young person is given the most appropriate support. 1:1 sessions will be offered to a young person if further support is needed following group workshops.
PCC John Campion said: “I am committed to breaking the cycle of crime as I understand early invention plays a key role in changing behaviours, which positively impacts the young person’s life and local communities.
“We know that knife crime is a societal issue and while knife crime rates are low in West Mercia, I am not complacent. Over the past three years I have proudly supported, and increased my funding, into the Steer Clear project.
“This additional investment, alongside the range of other services I support, shows my resolute commitment to have tailored measures in place to ensure intervention and prevention is at the heart of change in West Mercia.”