Plan launched to reduce violence across county

Neil Smith is the Strategic Serious Violence Prevention Coordinator in Gloucestershire

A five-year plan has been launched to reduce violent crime in Gloucestershire.

It comes as the Serious Violence Duty comes into force across the UK, legislation that requires councils and other local services to work together to combat violent crime.

The plan by Gloucestershire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) includes the implementation of a Youth Violence Prevention Panel.

Neil Smith, PCC violence prevention coordinator, said: “This is about bringing all partnerships together to make sure that we actually have something within our delivery plans, around the prevention and reduction of serious violence."

These knives were handed in in Gloucestershire during a knife amnesty

According to Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commission, violent crime in the county has increased over the last 36 months, with eight killings recorded in the county in the 12 months to August 2023.

Just days before the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty, a teenager was charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of a 16-year-old girl in Kingsway.

Further afield, the death of two teenagers after an attack in Bristol has also shocked many.

Mr Smith said when it came to knife crime specifically, which he said was a UK-wide problem, it was all about education and "about the understanding for young people that this is something they should not be doing".

He told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "Do you know as a parent, what your children are doing at night time?

A 27ft (8m) sculpture "knife angel" made from more than 100,000 seized blades went on display in Gloucester last year

"Now, I'm not suggesting at all that it is the parents' fault because individuals have to take responsibility.

"But sadly, nowadays, young people appear to be comfortable in taking knives and other bladed articles out at night time."

Mr Smith encouraged those that do carry knives to use knife bins which are available at some police stations including Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.

"I would rather take a knife off the street and not arrest someone if the situation was appropriate," said Mr Smith.

He said while members of the public were encouraged to share information, he admitted some might not trust the police and might prefer to call Crimestoppers anonymously.

“My plea, I guess, is if you know that a young person or anyone else, is regularly carrying a bladed article during the day, during the evening, then let someone know," he said.