Jane Stevenson, MP for Wolverhampton North East, has welcomed news that the Government is providing over £130 million to tackle serious violent crime – including murder and knife crime – in the coming year.
West Midlands Police will receive nearly £3 million as part of this extra funding, as one of the eighteen police force areas across England and Wales that has been selected for targeted police action.
In addition to this funding, today’s announcement also provides:
- £10 million to expand domestic abuse perpetrator programmes – working with offenders to help them change and prevent abuse happening in the first place
- over £3 million to expand investigations into gang related material on social media
- £1.6 million towards piloting the Creating Opportunities Forum which helps provide access to employment opportunities for young people at risk of serious violence
- £1 million to set up and pilot new homicide reviews – helping to prevent future deaths.
The funding package comes ahead of the introduction of a major criminal justice Bill, which will give police new stop and search powers to tackle known knife and weapons carriers, place a duty on public sector bodies – including police, education and health agencies – to take a joined-up approach to addressing serious violence, and require local agencies to review the circumstances when a homicide takes place involving offensive weapons, such as knives.
Jane said: “I am delighted that West Midlands Police will receive an extra £2.94 million to tackle the violent crime that has been robbing too many young people of their futures. This will make a real difference to communities in Wolverhampton, where I know violent crime is a particular concern for residents.
“This extra funding will ensure the police have all of the tools and resources they need to tackle violent crime and address its underlying causes, while also funding vital early intervention programmes that do positive preventative work with children and young people.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel MP said: “I am determined to cut crime and make our streets safer, which is why we are recruiting 20,000 more police officers, introducing new stop and search powers and giving the police the resources they need to go after the serious violent criminals causing misery in communities.
“But when it comes to gangs and serious violence, we must also tackle underlying causes. That is why we are investing in a new early intervention programme to stop young people committing these crimes in the first place.”
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