Violence has a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities. The World Health Organisation acknowledges that “violence of all sorts is strongly associated with social determinants” and therefore a different approach to tackling the problem of violence needs to be developed. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows the rate for incidents of violence with injury in Stoke-on-Trent are 12.97/100,000 compared to the national rate of 3.13/100,000.
The Safer City Partnership or SCP (combined Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Drug and Alcohol Action Team) has reformed its approach to tackling violence. Rather than taking a procedural justice approach dealing with the consequences, the SCP is working with partners to better understand the root causes of violence; yielding a whole-system response. Changing a culture of violence takes time, collaboration and commitment from partners within the Local Authority, Police, the wider criminal justice system, health and voluntary sector organisations.
Ensuring that “people and communities in Stoke-on-Trent feel safer from the harm caused by violent crime” is one of the priorities in the SCP plan and innovative approaches and projects are being utilised to tackle violent crime in the city; with visible benefits to individuals, families and communities.
A Violence Needs Assessment has identified individual, relationship, community and societal social determinants contributing to violence in the city. A strategy, and underpinning action plan, are being developed to enable the alignment of all partner organisation objectives and add momentum to an evolving public health approach to tackling violence.
By Kanza Ahmed, Public Health Speciality Registrar
