Executive Summary
In 2022, Cleveland was awarded £3.5m for a three-year period to deliver a Violence Reduction Unit. The VRU in Cleveland is called CURV (Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence). CURV’s purpose is to provide leadership and strategic coordination of Cleveland’s response to serious violence. CURV will deliver this by strengthening partnerships, working with communities, and ensuring specified authorities, partners and key stakeholders collaborate to ensure individuals, families and communities can live, learn, and work in Cleveland free from the fear, effects, and consequences of serious violence. CURV will achieve this by adopting a whole system and public health approach, working collaboratively with partners, that prioritises activity against several key performance indicators across all age groups (although with a focus on those aged under 25), which are:
- Reductions in hospital admissions for assaults with a knife or sharp object
- Reduction in Knife enabled offences.
- Reduction in all non-domestic homicides
CURV has allocated match funding for the provision of a full-time post which will support the Community Safety Management Team in Stockton providing an effective and efficient operational service, assisting in meeting the needs and aspirations of residents and visitors to the Stockton Borough area.
The role will ensure the effective development and alignment of comprehensive partnership and problem-solving plans across a range of portfolios and acting as a conduit through which strong relationships with internal and external partners and stakeholders, and the local communities.
This position will also be expected to contribute to sustainability plans by identifying alternate funding sources, assisting external stakeholders, and leading grant funding applications relevant to the area of business and to oversee associated initiatives, delivering these through implementation appropriate governance mechanisms and assisting local groups to apply for relevant funding.
The role will also be tasked to convene and chair Problem-Solving meetings and plans, arrange appropriate Task and Finish Groups to track progress and achieve joint collaborative outcomes on the agreed plans.
As Cleveland ranks among the top ten local areas for police recorded Serious Violence and hospital admissions for knife related incidents, CURV will prioritise activity that seeks to reduce these metrics.
The Clear Hold Build process within Stockton has resulted in clear reductions in crime and ASB within the pilot ward, indicating the need for the collaboration in POP planning can show positive results. This role was identified as an action in a recent Clear Hold Build pilot scheme within Stockton, the aim is to increase collaboration and increase inputs into both community safety and police POP planning.
At a local level, preventing, reducing, and tackling serious violence and strengthening partnership working is a key priority for the Police and Crime Commissioner. is a key priority.