Executive Summary
In April 2022, Cleveland’s OPCC was notified of its successful application for Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) Funding from the Home Office over 3 years. This resulted in the establishment of the ‘Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence’ (CURV), which was tasked with the role of bringing together all partners and stakeholders to develop and deliver an intelligence led strategy aimed at reducing serious violence throughout Cleveland through a Public Health agenda.
In 2022, the Serious Violence Duty was introduced through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act; this requires specified authorities to work together to plan to prevent and reduce serious violence within the local government area.
As part of this work, CURV commissioned Crest Advisory to undertake a Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) outlining the scale, nature, and drivers of serious violence in Cleveland. The rates of serious violence offending are highest on the weekend, particularly in the evening and early morning, potentially aligning with peaks in the night-time economy (NTE) and geographical zones. In response, the Cleveland strategy is focused on reducing incidents of serious violence within and around those nighttime economy zones. The interventions funded through the Serious Violence Duty are based on thorough consultation with key NTE stakeholders, who have attended a series of workshops and forums facilitated and delivered by CURV during late 2023.
Stockton Business Improvement District
Stockton Business Improvement District (BID) is the elected representative of businesses within Stockton Town Centre, covering both daytime and nighttime economy venues. The Stockton BID works as a partnership between local businesses and organisations to campaign for and deliver a range of projects and policies to benefit the area. Stockton BID have previously funded a number of initiatives within the NTE including the use of Scheme Link, a Pubwatch facility for licensed premises in the town centre.
Stockton BID will match fund CURV and also establish and maintain a volunteer driven Street Pastors and Taxi Marshall program to enhance community safety at peak NTE times. Funding will be allocated to support the marketing and outreach to recruit volunteers, and deliver comprehensive training including conflict resolution, emergency response and community engagement.
Funding will also be allocated for the purchase of two APEX radios that will ensure Pastors can remain in communication with NTE venues and the CCTV control room. Communication protocols will be put in place to ensure regular check ups are undertaken.
Delivery Timeline (to be completed March 2024):
Phase 1- recruitment of Street Pastors and Taxi Marshalls including advertisement and interviews.
Phase 2- procurement of APEX radios and miscellaneous safety resources.
Phase 3- development of a comprehensive training programme for volunteers.
Phase 4- pre-implementation phase to ensure any issues can be addressed before the launch.
Phase 5- official launch and implementation of the programme.
Decision 2023/24 – 0024:Serious Violence Duty Funding (application, 212kB)