Violence reduction unit to benefit from a £9m boost to youth services
Our award-winning violence reduction programme is set to benefit from a £9.4 million boost to fund youth intervention programs across 12 London Hospitals, supporting young knife crime victims while they're being treated.
Since 2022, the London-wide violence reduction unit has supported over 3,100 young people, significantly reducing the number of those deemed high-risk for further violence. Following engagement with youth workers, 77% of young people reported a reduction in their risk of harm, and 73% felt safer post-intervention.
In a visit from The Mayor of London and Diana Johnson MP, Minister for Crime and Policing to The Royal London hospital, the team demonstrated how collaboration between our Major Trauma Team, Tower Hamlets Council, and the St Giles Trust helps reduce violence in the capital.
Professor Martin Griffiths CBE DL FRCSEd, Consultant Trauma Surgeon at The Royal London Hospital and Clinical Director of the Violence Reduction Network for NHS England, explained: "When a young person arrives with a knife injury, we have the chance to do more than just treat their wounds. By embedding youth work in hospitals, we can address the root causes of violence, which greatly reduces the chance of re-injury and re-admission."
Hospital-based youth workers play a key role in intervening at the 'reachable, teachable moment' - when young people are most open to changing their behaviour, whether they arrive with injuries or after being arrested.
Thanks to these interventions, The Royal London Hospital has seen a 20% reduction in re-admittance rates from young people who accept support from multiple agencies including St Giles.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, emphasised: "I'm committed to tackling violence and building a safer London by addressing the complex causes of crime. The Violence Reduction Unit, funded by my office, focuses on prevention and investing in young people. I welcome the Government’s support in continuing these effective interventions."
Over the last few years, the work of our trauma team has gained much media attention, most recently in Idris Elba’s documentary on the UK’s knife crime crisis, as well as a BBC program looking closer to youth violence in London, and Channel 4’s Emergency series, which followed trauma teams treating critically injured patients.
Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson added: "Tackling violence and making our streets safer is at the heart of this government’s Plan for Change.
“I am grateful to the London VRU and the Mayor of London for the vital work they already do, supporting vulnerable young lives in exceptionally difficult and complex circumstances."