Local government to form part of new Serious Violence Taskforce

The Home Secretary Amber Rudd will launch a Serious Violence Strategy to prevent and tackle violent, drug-related crime, in London today (9 April)

With £40 million funding, the strategy includes early intervention methods, as well as making sure the police have the tools and support they need to tackle violent crime.

This includes a new £11 million Early Intervention Youth Fund for community projects to help steer young people away from violence in the first place, and a £3.6 million fund to establish a new National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to address drugs, violence and exploitation of vulnerable people.

Part of these measures include a Serious Violence Taskforce, which will bring together the voluntary sector, local government, police and other key sectors to ensure the strategy is delivered effectively.

The strategy also highlights how social media helps facilitate drug-market violence, glamorises gang or drug-selling life, and normalises weapons-carrying.