POLICE and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland Steve Turner has been given a lead role in tackling serious violence.
Steve was confirmed as joint portfolio lead for serious violence at the Association of PCCs Annual General Meeting.
The role gives Steve a national platform to campaign on and speak about the issue of serious violence. The APCC represents police and crime commissioners throughout England and Wales.
Steve said: “Cleveland is the force with the second highest rate for violent crime in England and Wales.
“As such, I feel I am ideally placed to talk about the problems caused by serious violence as well as some of the potential solutions and what forces need to equip them to tackle violent crime.”
Portfolio leads are national policy leads and media spokespeople for the APCC on specific topics – in Steve’s case serious violence.
They have a responsibility to consider and reflect views of APCC members – particularly those, who are part of their portfolio group on specific crime, policing and community safety topics.
Leads work to develop robust, evidence-based, policy positions and messaging.
The APCC affords members a platform for strategic engagement with national policy and media and the opportunity to share information and good practice.
In addition to Cleveland’s record of violence against the person, the force has:
- The third highest rate for firearms’ offences
- The fourth highest rate for offences using knives and sharp implements
- The fifth highest rate for hospital admissions for assault, where a sharp object was used.*
The PCC is campaigning for Government cash to set up a Serious Violence Reduction Unit to tackle the problem of serious violence.
Since taking office, the PCC has hosted visits by Home Secretary Pritti Patel and Policing Minister Kit Malthouse.
Both were given presentations highlighting Cleveland’s problems and asking for the Government to consider a Violence Reduction Unit for Cleveland.
*All rankings are for police forces in England and Wales