A half million pound fund to help stop people becoming involved in violent crime has opened for applications.
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Steve Turner, with support from the new Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV), has made £500,000 available. It’s part of ongoing work to reduce serious violence in the area.
The fund will be open to community groups, social enterprises, public sector bodies and non-profit organisations. They must work in or across Cleveland and provide support to people affected by, at risk of, or involved in serious violence.
It’s the first major announcement from the CURV partnership. CURV was established earlier this year after the Government announced Cleveland will receive £3.5m over the next three years for a violence reduction unit.
The fund has been launched as the latest national statistics show violent crime continues to rise in Cleveland.
In comparison with the same period a year prior, between April 2021 and March 2022, the Cleveland area saw an increase of 15.7% in violent offences. This is in comparison to a national increase of 17.7%.
Per 1000 population, this means Cleveland has the third highest level of violent crime in England and Wales.
Cleveland has the highest level of knife crime in the country. There was an increase of 14.1% per 100,000 population in the 12 months from March 2021.
Chair of the CURV partnership, PCC Steve Turner, said: “The crime statistics published today prove exactly why we need such a tough approach to tackling serious violence in Cleveland.
“For every violent crime that takes place, there is a ripple effect that impacts the victim and their families, the police, health services and the wider community.
PCC Steve Turner – chair of the CURV Partnership
Creating Safe Spaces
“We must get ahead of this problem. It’s about creating safe spaces where at-risk individuals can be given the tools to live a happy, positive life – rather than becoming involved in crime and using violence without a second thought.
“As our major first step, I’m delighted the CURV partnership is able to offer this significant amount of money. Funding will allow us to invest in services designed to address the root causes of violent crime.”
Cost to the NHS
To mark the announcement, Steve visited the A&E department at James Cook University Hospital. He met with staff from the Major Trauma team, to help understand the impact serious violence has on the NHS.
The CURV partnership is responsible for delivering a ‘whole system’, public health approach to tackling violence. It brings together key partners to identify the local drivers and root-causes of serious violence and agree and implement a multi-agency response to them.
It is made up of representatives from children services, adult services, Cleveland Police, public health and the voluntary/community sector.
Organisations must submit applications to the fund by 23:55 on Friday 26 August 2022.
Apply now