A series of projects are underway across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that help to prevent young people from being drawn into serious violence.  

Money from the Home Office Serious Violence Duty is being used to fund several interventions that tackle the underlying causes of violent behaviour and prevent violence happening in the first place. 

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston is working closely with local partners to co-ordinate the delivery of the Serious Violence Duty, which came into effect nationally on 31^st January 2023. 

The Duty, introduced as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, requires organisations to work together and plan to reduce and prevent serious violence in their local area using a ‘public health approach’. This treats serious violence the same way as a disease by focusing on ‘prevention’ rather than cure. 

Several projects are being delivered as part of an early intervention approach that aim to stop the risks of serious violence from emerging at the earliest opportunity. 

Funding has been awarded to Cambridge City Council to develop a countywide, age-appropriate educational package on county lines, specifically designed for children in years 5 and 6 across all schools in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  

The Healthy Belonging Resource includes an animated, cartoon-style video that has been incorporated into a series of PowerPoint lesson plans to be delivered by teachers as part of the PSHE curriculum for Key Stage 2 pupils. 

The resources, already in use at 24 schools, raise awareness of county lines and its associated risks, and educate children about decisions and consequences to promote behavioural change.   

Other Serious Violence Duty funding has been used to expand the reach of the Cambs Against County Lines (CACL) educational video, which is currently being shared in secondary schools across the county.  

The bespoke video, which features imagery of Cambridge and Peterborough, aims to prevent violence and exploitation by teaching young people about county lines and how to spot the signs.  

The funding will cover an extension to the video’s licence until December 2026 which means more young people across all the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) areas will benefit from its safety messages. 

These educational resources support an earlier knife crime awareness project that was delivered in Peterborough last year. This project engaged with more than 1,800 local people and raised awareness about the risks associated with knife carrying.  

In another Serious Violence Duty funded project, Cambridge City Council has delivered parental workshops in different areas of the county to identify issues of concern such as abusive behaviour, unhealthy relationships, knife crime and drug dealing/use. 

From the research, a series of posters and other resources will be developed to increase understanding on serious violence and inform parents on how they can access help for their children.  

Cllr Cameron Holloway, Executive Councillor for Community Safety, Homelessness and Wellbeing at Cambridge City Council, said: “We are very grateful to receive funding to deliver these projects. Violent crime and county lines activity cause huge harm to people across our county, and it is vital that we do all we can to address this. We hope that these projects will help to keep our communities safe and protect young people from violence and exploitation.” 

Furthermore, funding has been invested into a Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS) project to upskill health staff to identify and respond to vulnerabilities in young people at an early stage.  

Darryl said: “I have always championed prevention over cure – this is even more important when it comes to serious violence where the lives of young people are at risk. 

“As parents, communities, practitioners, services and partnerships, we stand united in our mission to prevent the young people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough from being lured into serious violence, either as victims or perpetrators.  

“This can be achieved by initiating early conversations and by educating children and young people about the dangers and risks they could potentially face, and the consequences of making dangerous decisions. The earlier we intervene, the easier it is to steer them on the right path and build their resilience to violence and all crime.” 

Another project funded through the Serious Violence Duty is Safe Harbour – a supportive space for parents and carers of children who are being exploited. 

The project, run in partnership with the Safeguarding Children Partnership Board, will provide an opportunity for practical advice to be shared with parents and carers. 

Dave Sargent, from the Joint Safeguarding Board, said: “We have listened to the needs of parents and carers who believe that their children maybe being exploited, they clearly want a safe space where they can discuss with others who have been through the same issues and Safe Harbour will seek to support that.”