Kent & Medway Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)

Addressing the causes of violence in Kent and Medway through a public health approach Autumn 2020 newsletter Sharing the amazing work our team is involved in to help reduce violence and keep our communities safe Who we are who have vast experience in Medway Council, National Pro- family management, youth jus- bation Service, Public Health The Kent & Medway Violence tice, education, early help and England, and the NHS and can Reduction Unit (VRU) was cre- youth work. provide reports which are drawn ated in September 2019 with The team also includes three from a variety of different money awarded to the Police analysts from Kent Police who sources. and Crime Commissioner for provide regular reports and The team also has a project of- Kent from the Home Office. analysis to help understand ficer responsible for commis- Two VRU directors, one from what violence looks like in the sioning services and evaluating Kent Police and one from Kent county, and help identify areas the impact of the VRU’s work County Council (KCC), are se- that require further support. The and of any services delivered. conded to lead the unit along analysts have access to infor- An administrative officer will with five area coordinators mation from Kent Police, KCC, also be joining the team soon.

The Kent & Medway Violence Reduction Unit: Our aims and partners

What does the VRU do? Our Partners

Using a public health approach to violence, we address the causes of violence and aim to support those involved and impacted by violence. We are tackling violence in Kent and Medway by:

• Offering support and identifying opportunities to change and improve lives

• Working with people to ensure their voices are heard and that they have the opportunity to build positive relationships with others

• Responding quickly and with a multi-agency approach to deliver the best support network

• Enforcing when necessary

• Influencing cultural change to help make communities safer for everyone

1st edition newsletter Autumn 2020 www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/vru News from your Violence Reduction Unit

Who and what do we fund? Serious Violence Reviews 2019/20 Funding in 2019/20 supported 23 local projects Our analysts scan all daily crime report incidents of with more than 600 people receiving a service. serious violence which involve anyone aged 25 and under. These reports are then shared with the We provided extra support to help members of relevant VRU co-ordinators to review. society change their lifestyle utilising a number of agencies. We offered services that focused on The aim is to ensure there is a swift, multi-agency sport, practical skills, emotional and wellbeing response to help prevent violence re-occurring. support. We also funded equipment such as rapid Referrals are made to discuss these incidents deployment CCTV for Community Safety Units within an existing multi-agency framework consist- (CSUs), plus emergency trauma packs for com- ing of a District Contextual Safeguarding Meeting munities and Buddi tags for Integrated Offender or a Complex Adolescent Risk Management meet- Management. ing. Where an individual is not already being dis- cussed at a multi-agency meeting, co-ordinators 2020/21 bring professionals together to discuss the concerns and help to facilitate a support network for This year we have funded services to : the young person. Our reviews work across districts and continue to • Offer diversionary activities to communities help align the multi-agency approach to help re- through our Vulnerable Children’s Charities duce violence. fund • Develop approaches to address Adverse Recent example Childhood Experiences (ACEs) A recent review in Swale incorporated agencies • Work with schools to enhance pupils’ self- from Medway, Swale and Canterbury due to the esteem, and bring schools and parents complexity of the incident. The work resulted in a together decline in serious violence in the district. • Support those in prisons and police custody

Your VRU is funding, or supporting the PCC to fund...

North Kent: Olympia Boxing East Kent: Box It Out Brogdale CIC Changing Minds SATEDA Sanctuary Housing ACE Awareness Young Lives Foundation Sheppey Matters Medway Youth Justice Canterbury CSU Protect Your Child Sittingbourne Street Games Countywide: StreetSoccer Youth Resilience Forward Trust prisons project Refocus South Kent: West Kent: St Giles’ Trust Police Custody service The Shed Integrated Offender Management Dover BeeChange ACE Awareness Switch Café Youth Justice 1st Aid Tonbridge CSP ACE Awareness The SMART project Kenward Trust Target Engagement My Place Primal Roots Ashford ACE awareness

1st edition newsletter Autumn 2020 www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/vru News from your Violence Reduction Unit VRU funds 500 life-saving ETPs for distribution across Kent We purchased more than 500 until the emergency services emergency trauma packs arrive at the scene. (ETPs) which have been distrib- The packs have been sent to uted across public spaces Community Safety Partnerships throughout the county. for distribution to businesses and Each red bag contains simple other locations; and videos items to help preserve the life of have been produced explaining someone who has been injured how the products work.

Partners working together to raise awareness of knife crime

The VRU is funding the Community Safety Units throughout Kent to deliver a Knife Awareness Campaign. Allocation is based on data provided regarding the number of knife incidents within specific area. The campaign is around:

• Highlighting the risk of carrying a knife

• Partnership work/community engagement

• Focussing on prevention of knife hotspots

• Considering known areas of risk around both county lines and young criminal group activity awareness workshops, knife sweeps, first aid train- ing for young people, and consultation with young Activities across the county have included knife people about changes they would like to see.

Trauma-informed approach underpins VRU aims A key funded ACE Ambassador Health team to develop an ACE- part of schemes in Ashford, Swale, Do- informed workforce across the the preven- ver and Tonbridge along with a county. This multi-agency col- tion approach in Kent is a separate scheme with Sanctu- laboration has created the goal to develop a workforce in- ary Housing working across SPACE Matters site, where informed by Adverse Childhood districts. formation on ACEs can be Experiences (ACE’s). We have We also work with Kent’s Public found.

How to contact the VRU: We are happy to answer any questions

VRU, Kent Police Headquarters, Sutton Road, Maidstone, ME15 9BZ

01622 677055 [email protected]

kent-pcc.gov.uk/vru @KentVRU

Details of the team, their roles, and the areas where they work are on the next page...

1st edition newsletter Autumn 2020 www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/vru News from your Violence Reduction Unit

#LOOKCLOSER Case study: Making a difference DON’T WAIT. A 16-year-old boy who Buddi tag to be fitted to REPORT IT. was well known to agen- the boy make him ‘too cies because of concerns hot to handle’. To the around knife crime, drug boy’s relief, his exploiters Look for the signs and remember young running and robbery, did not ask him to join people who have been or who are being went missing for a period them again because the exploited: of time to London. group did not want him being tracked to potential • Don't always look vulnerable On his return he dis- closed that he had been trap houses. • Don't always act like victims to trap houses and he The young man thanked • May not understand that they had been arrested for the VRU for the support are being exploited possession of class A and the safety network • Could be feeling scared about drugs. While away, he placed around him. what might happen to them next had been criminally ex- As part of this support • Need to feel safe and heard ploited by more sophisti- package, a National Re- cated offenders. He was • Be provided with a safe space to talk ferral Mechanism (NRM) willing to talk because he was completed by Chil- • May have a distrust of police/adults was confused about what dren’s Social Work Ser- in authority had happened. He and vices, professionals sup- childrenssociety.org.uk/look-closer his family sought support ported him to return to from their local VRU co- education and the We The Kent & Medway VRU ordinator. Are With You substance supports the Children’s The VRU coordinator ar- misuse service continues Society’s Look Closer ranged a multi-agency to work with him on a campaign meeting and agreed for a weekly basis.

How to contact the Kent & Medway Violence Reduction Unit Chief Inspector VRU Director [email protected] Ben Loose Mark Powell VRU Director [email protected]

Rose Field VRU Coordinator for Sevenoaks, Dartford, [email protected] Gravesham Caley Walden VRU Coordinator for Ashford, Folkestone, Dover [email protected]

Emma Price VRU Coordinator for Maidstone, [email protected] Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells Sharon VRU Coordinator for Medway, Swale [email protected] McCauley Sarah Rothwell VRU Coordinator for Thanet, Canterbury [email protected]

Claire Read VRU Lead Analyst [email protected]

Beckee VRU Analyst [email protected] Wickham Lauren Barrett Programme Officer [email protected]

1st edition newsletter Autumn 2020 www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/vru