Violent crime down as initiatives tackle issues

THE number of serious violence and knife-related incidents in the North East have declined, according to the latest crime data.

- By NICOLE GOODWIN

The figures show that over the last 12 months there has been a 5.9% reduction in serious violence in the Northumbria Police area, as well as a 5.7% drop in knife-related incidents. Meanwhile, hospital admissions caused by sharp objects are down by 34%.

During this time, a range of interventions have been delivered across the force area via the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, many of which were co-designed with communities and practitioners to ensure they respond to local needs.

The unit, which was established in 2019, takes a long-term, public health approach to tackling serious violence, addressing its root causes through early intervention and targeted initiatives.

This includes engaging over 34,350 individuals via the Education Team, including 11,008 young people who attended dedicated knife crime awareness sessions. Student champions have also provided tailored, one-to-one support for 166 vulnerable young people, offering guidance to divert them from crime.