PCC announces £500,000 investment to build brighter futures and prevent serious violence throughout County Durham and Darlington.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is calling for bids from expert providers to reduce the impact and frequency of serious violence within our communities. The Durham and Darlington Serious Violence Duty Partnership, supported by Commissioner Allen is releasing a grant funding opportunity to protect residents of County Durham and Darlington from serious violence.

The Violence Prevention Fund will be focused in areas which have seen the highest levels of violence, with the aim of providing greater support for those at risk or already involved or affected by serious violence.

Bids are encouraged from charities, community groups, social enterprises, public or private sector organisations who work to stop problems before they occur, by reducing the opportunities for crime and providing alternative pathways for those who may become involved in serious violence in the future.

Welcoming the funding, Commissioner Allen said: “Tackling serious violence remains a priority for the police, our partners and the communities we serve.

“This latest funding will allow the Partnership to continue to deliver early intervention and prevention programmes, while allowing us to increase focused enforcement in those areas that are most at risk of serious violence.”

Chief Superintendent Richie Allen, Durham Constabulary, said: “Our officers and staff are committed to keeping all our communities in Durham and Darlington safe and we continue to work closely with the Partnership.

“As Senior Responsible Officer for the Serious Violence Partnership, I am pleased that this latest funding further supports our work to bear down upon those small number of people who carry weapons, particularly young people, and to deliver focused deterrent to those most at risk of offending.”

Amanda Riley, Darlington Council’s cabinet member for stronger communities, said: “This money will help existing groups and organisations continue their work to prevent violent crime and support those at risk, or already involved in crime.

“Darlington is a safe place but there is a small minority of people involved in serious crime. These people can cause real suffering and issues for local communities and I welcome any work to combat these problems.”

Applications for initiatives will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Meeting the needs of the local community in response to the issues they face around serious violence. This should be based on evidence provided by partnerships.

• Demonstrate the delivery of a multi-agency, collaborative approach to reducing or preventing serious violence

• Evidence based practice using resources such as College of Policing or Youth Endowment Fund Toolkit

• How the proposed intervention will address one or more of the following Partnership priorities to reduce the number of victims of serious violence:

1. Support for those aged 18 and under involved or at risk of being drawn into Serious Violence.

2. Reduce Alcohol-related violence in the Night-Time Economy.

3. Support for those aged 18-35 already involved in Serious Violence, with a focus on males.

4. Reduce Domestic Abuse related violence with a knife or sharp instrument (repeat DA perpetrators and victims).

Organisations can now submit their bids for up to £50,000 of funding for projects which will run until the end of March 2025.      

All applications must be submitted via email at general.enquiriesPCC@durham-pcc.gov.uk by 4pm on Friday 12th January 2024.

For further information please read the guidance document on the PCC website or email general.enquiriesPCC@durham-pcc.gov.uk.