Lancashire Police to receive £700k to tackle serious violent crime

Police in Lancashire are set to receive an extra £710,500 to tackle serious violent crime, including knife crime and murder.
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Burnley and Pendle MPs Antony Higginbotham and Andrew Stephenson welcomed the announcement that the Government is making available over £130m. to tackle serious violent crime – including murder and knife crime – in the coming year.

Lancashire Police will receive £710,500 of part of this extra funding, as one of the 18 areas across England and Wales selected for targeted police action.

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Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham said: “We need to tackle violent criminals head on, giving the police the powers and resources they need to take them to task. And today’s announcement of extra funding will ensure just that, giving our police all of the tools they need to crack down on violent crime whilst also addressing its underlying causes.

Lancashire Police are to receive £710,500 to tackle violent crime in the countyLancashire Police are to receive £710,500 to tackle violent crime in the county
Lancashire Police are to receive £710,500 to tackle violent crime in the county

"Violent crime devastates families and communities and we need to come down hard on it; rooting it out wherever it happens. That’s what I promised when I said I’d back the police and that's what this money will help us to do."

Mr Stephenson said: “I am delighted that the Lancashire Police will receive an extra £710,500 to tackle the violent crime that has been robbing too many young people of their futures.

“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.

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“By backing our police with the funding, powers and resources they need, we are keeping the public and our communities safe, so that people everywhere can live their lives free from the fear of crime.”

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 £23m. 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, the announcement also provides: £10m. to expand domestic abuse perpetrator programmes – working with offenders to help them change and prevent abuse happening in the first place, over £3m. to expand investigations into gang related material on social media, £1.6m. towards piloting the Creating Opportunities Forum which helps 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.

The funding package comes ahead of the introduction of a major criminal justice Bill, which will give police new stop and search powers to tackle known knife and weapons carriers, place a duty on public sector bodies – including police, education and health agencies – to take a joined-up approach to addressing serious violence, and require local agencies to review the circumstances when a homicide takes place involving offensive weapons, such as knives.