SOLIHULL MP Julian Knight has welcomed news that the Government is making available more than £130million to tackle serious violent crime – including murder and knife crime – in the coming year.
West Midlands Police will receive £2,940,000 of part of this extra funding for targeted action.
The total £130.5m funding package includes £30m to support the police to take targeted action in parts of England and Wales most affected by serious violence, as well as up to £23million for a new early intervention programme that will help stop young people from being drawn into the cycle of violence.
In addition to this funding, there’s £10m to expand domestic abuse perpetrator programmes, more than £3m to expand investigations into gang related material on social media, £1.6m towards piloting the Creating Opportunities Forum to help provide access to employment opportunities for young people at risk of serious violence, and £1m to set up and pilot new homicide reviews – helping to prevent future deaths.
“I am delighted that West Midlands Police will receive an extra £2,940,000 to tackle the violent crime that has been robbing too many young people of their futures,” said Mr Knight.
“This funding ensures our police have all of the tools and resources they need to tackle violent crime and address its underlying causes in our community, whilst also funding vital early intervention programmes that do positive preventative work with children and young people.”
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, said: “Whilst this money amounts to less than half a per cent of the force’s annual budget, any money we secure is a bonus.
“The short term nature of this funding means we can’t increase recruitment in the way I would like, but it will help us put officers on the beat for more hours so they can tackle violent crime.
“The real solution to violent crime, however, is long term funding so we can carefully plan.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Payne said: “We welcome the Home Office funding announced today to help us tackle serious violent crime in our communities.
“We will be working with partners and other stakeholders to make the most of our combined skills in reducing violence in the long term as well as the short term.”
