Specialist knife-crime training is being carried out across the region to help teachers, nurses and other frontline staff steer young people away from violence.

Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness has rolled out the latest knife crime training designed to ensure young people at risk of gang-violence and criminality are spotted early and helped to turn their lives around.

The region’s only dedicated Violence Reduction Unit – set up by the Police Commissioner to prevent violent crime– has so far worked with more than 250 frontline key workers to better prepare them for supporting the region’s most vulnerable young people.

The Northumbria VRU sessions have so far been delivered in hospitals, schools, children’s homes, colleges and more, and see attendees taught the warning signs to look out, the services available to support those young people in need, and devastating impact just carrying a knife can have.

Praising the impact of the sessions, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said: “Taking this approach of preventing crime is so important, we absolutely cannot just arrest our way out of it. We need to better prepare staff to deal with vulnerable young people, and also give those same young people the knowledge to make positive life decisions”.

In addition to the sessions for professionals, the Commissioner’s VRU has also delivered knife crime awareness sessions to more than 3,400 young people this academic year.

Kim added: “Some of the staff that have attended the training see these young people at their most vulnerable moment – whether that be in an A&E department, or a custody suite – moments where these professionals can have a real chance to connect with the young person.

“No one should ever be carrying or using a knife, but unfortunately, there are incidents where we see this behaviour occur. Now those first responders will have the confidence and knowledge to help divert those involved in this lifestyle to the excellent services locally. We can break the cycle of violence.”

Those often first on scene or responding to a knife incident, including A&E doctors, as well as paediatrics staff from the Great North Children’s Hospital, have been just some of the staff involved in the knife crime awareness sessions.

Caroline Grayson, Consultant Paediatrician and Designated Doctor for Safeguarding Children at Newcastle Hospitals said: “We have been delighted with the response from the VRU team who have been delivering training in relation to knife crime and gang activity to staff across the organisation and in particular targeting staff in the emergency department and trauma team.

Such training helps our staff identify potential victims of knife crime who may not initially divulge the exact cause of their injuries when they present. It is hoped that with the appropriate approach and sensitive questioning, staff can make sure that any victim of knife crime receives the support they require.

In addition to the teaching sessions, we are hoping that we will soon be able to access support from dedicated youth workers in the Emergency Department working in close collaboration with the VRU and Edge North East team. This exciting initiative will ensure that any individual accessing our Emergency Department who is a victim of knife crime can receive immediate professional help and support.”

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Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Shadow Home Secretary, has visited Tyneside to see how the region’s police commissioner Kim McGuinness is preventing crime and serious violence amidst Government funding uncertainty. 

Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner welcomed the Labour frontbencher as the pair called on the Government to commit to long term funding for crime prevention and youth services.

The call comes following devastating cuts totalling a near 75% funding reduction in services for young people across the Northumbria force area since 2011.

The MP visited several youth interventions which currently receive funding from the PCC to prevent crime and offending across the region.

Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner set out the challenges local services are operating under. Kim said: “We’ve made some real progress in fighting crime and preventing crime, but until the Government back a long-term approach with the necessary funding, we will never deliver sustainable change.”

“Because of the short-term funding that Government hands down, we can only provide ad-hoc support and it is ultimately the young people who lose out when a project or programme has to come to an end after so many months.”

“It is time for the Government to stand up and give the youth sector the support they have stripped them of.”

On his visit to Gateshead and Newcastle, the Shadow Home Secretary was shown a range of crime preventing projects ranging from in school education to one to one mentoring and family support work.

Praising the work showcased, but echoing the Commissioners call for sustainable funding, the MP said:

“The work that is being done, across Northumbria by Kim as the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner is fantastic. Kim’s focus on preventing crime, and its causes in conjunction with organisations showcases why these services are so important.

“This Conservative Government’s cuts have done huge damage to community policing across the country, putting safety at risk, whilst their cuts to youth services have been devastating.

“In the face of this challenge Kim is doing important work with the community and local police to inspire young people and divert them from a life of crime.”

Labours shadow minister also had the opportunity to receive a tour of NUCASTLE, the soon to be new home of Newcastle United Foundation (NUF), one of the organisations currently being funded by the Commissioner to improve the lives of vulnerable young people.

While visiting the new site, the MP was introduced to a participant from the Foundation’s YOLO programme, a youth mentoring scheme delivered by NUF that sees staff work one on one with young people in a bid to prevent them falling into a life of crime.

The flagship programme, which supports those young people who may otherwise become involved in serious violence, County Lines or other types of offending, is a partnership between the Commissioner, Northumbria Police and the regions two Football Foundations – Newcastle & Sunderland.

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An anti-social behaviour busting partnership with engagement at its core has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards.

Project Vita, a joint initiative between Northumbria Police and North Tyneside Council sprang into life in early 2020 with the aim of steering youth away from trouble and offering them confidence boosting opportunities to build life skills, while reducing ASB in the areas of Wallsend and Howden.

A key focus for the project is to engage with young people who are out in the community gathering in large numbers and perceived to be ‘intimidating’, approach those groups and start to build dialogue to find out what they are doing, why they are there and what and what they would like to see provided for young people.

These engagements also provide opportunities to identify any vulnerable young people to be able to offer support and advice at the earliest opportunity.

The project also received generous funding to the tune of £130,000 from Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness.

Half of the grant was used to convert unused space in a council customer contact centre in Wallsend into a base for local police, youth workers and community protection officers to work from.

The neighbourhood policing team moved  from their headquarters on the outskirts of town to the base early this year and have praised the multi-partnership approach.

And, the other half of the funding is being channelled into projects to reduce youth-related crime and ASB with teams providing more out-of-hours and weekend outreach support in the community.

Just 18 months on, the project has now been shortlisted by the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) for two awards – Best Community and Neighbourhood Initiative and Best Collaborative working Initiative.

Judges will make a decision on the national winners later this month.

The Local Government Association have also highlighted the project as a model of best practice.

Inspector Tom Hart who leads the neighbourhood policing team, said: “The move to Wallsend town centre and working side-by-side with colleagues from the council has seen a huge change to how we can engage with the community and in particular the area’s young adults.

“That joined up approach to tackling youth disorder means there’s more emphasis on not just curbing ASB but understanding the root causes and how we can change attitudes, all while reaching out to some of the most vulnerable children in the area.

He added: “It’s great to see that the project has been shortlisted for two awards and recognised nationally by the Local Government Association.”

Feedback from the teens revealed they wanted to have a safe space to meet up with friends and have that space to just hang out.

A suitable community venue was identified and opened out of normal hours so that there was an area exclusively for young.

The pandemic unfortunately saw a stop to the drop in sessions but there are plans in place for them to return.

Councillor Carole Burdis, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement at North Tyneside Council, said: “The success of this initiative so far is down to the hard work and dedication of our community protection staff, the police and other community partners.

“Together, we are working to tackle antisocial behaviour at the root, and engaging with young people to help them understand the consequence of their actions and make more positive decisions in future.

“North Tyneside is one of the safest place in the country to live, work and visit, and initiatives such as Project Vita play a big part in maintaining that. I am very proud of everyone involved in the project for being shortlisted and I wish them further success in the awards.”

Police and Crime Commissioner McGuinness added: “Tackling ASB is a priority for local residents and it is a priority for me. There is still much work to be done to make sure everyone feels at ease in their neighbourhood, but with projects such as this we are showing that change can happen.

“I’m grateful to Northumbria Police and others for the hard work they have put in to make this scheme a success.

“As your police commissioner I am committing to supporting our police to fight crime and working with others to prevent crime, and a key part if that is talking to young people and telling them there is an alternative available if they want to work with us.”

Thousands of school children have seen the reality of carrying a knife after Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness funded specialist education sessions.

Over the last school year, the PCC’s Violence Reduction Unit worked with almost 3,500 children and young people to raise awareness of knife crime and the impact of carrying a knife, despite the restrictions in place due to lockdown.

The Education Team delivered interactive sessions for young people in schools and youth groups with a focus on awareness and prevention of knife crime.

The sessions covered why young people might carry a knife, the law, as well as providing advice on additional information and support. An incredible 152 sessions were delivered to young people throughout the North East, as part of a long-term ambition to fight crime.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “It is vitally important that we continue to educate young people to provide them with the knowledge to make positive decisions for the future. I am delighted by how many young people my Violence Reduction Unit have engaged with and I encourage anyone in a school or youth setting to contact the team to arrange a session”.

During the pandemic the number of offences involving a knife dropped by 8% and hospital admissions for assault were down. Ms McGuiness added: “Although our region is very safe there is always a possibility that crime could increase as we come out of lockdown. Therefore, we must engage young people now to ensure they are diverted from crime by having the right support and opportunities. My Violence Reduction Unit are here to ensure that Northumbria Police are not alone in standing up to violent crime.”

The Education Team recently delivered a knife crime session at Barnardo’s Employment Training Skills North in North Shields. Helen Skea, Curriculum Lead said: “We had a great session with all the young people within our centre in partnership with Northumbria Youth Action. The session was about raising awareness of knife crime and the students were educated on the consequences and impact of carrying knives, not just for themselves but also for their family, friends and community. All our students have left the session with the clear understanding of the implications and devastating impacts and not to carry knives. In addition learners are now more aware of where to get advice and support in particular the #knifefree website and Fearless (Crimestoppers).”

Training is also available to those who work with young people to ensure they have an understanding of issues relating to knife crime such as the law and factors that increase a person’s vulnerability to becoming both a perpetrator and a victim.

For more information or to arrange an education session, please contact the Violence Reduction Unit by email VRU@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk.

Newcastle United Foundation and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness are celebrating a major milestone as part of an ongoing project to protect, educate and inspire young people to live a life away from crime.

Since 2019, the official charity arm of Newcastle United has worked closely with the PCC’s Violence Reduction Unit to provide interventions and support for children and teenagers aged eight to 14 who are on the fringes of criminal or anti-social activity.

Now, two years on from launching the YOLO project, the Foundation has successfully provided direct mentorship support and positive interventions for 103 young people in the past year through more than 500 hours of face-to-face delivery during the pandemic.

Delivered by a dedicated team of Foundation staff, YOLO offers one-to-one support in schools and community settings, with sessions educating youngsters about drug and alcohol abuse, laws and consequences, county lines operations and targeted interventions to suit each individual.

To mark the two-year anniversary since YOLO began, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness met with participants and staff at a Newcastle United Foundation Premier League Kicks session to see the initiative in action.

Kicks, also delivered by the Foundation, provides free weekly football for children and teenagers from Berwick to Gateshead and is an informal way to engage young people who could or have benefitted from YOLO intervention.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “I know the Foundation really well and they totally get it – if we are truly going to fight crime, we need to get ahead of it, and prevent it from happening in the first place.

“Making sure young people have access to positive activities, role models and support is vital – and this is what YOLO is all about.”

She continued: “My Violence Reduction Unit has worked with the project right from the beginning – it’s a key project for us as it gets kids on the right track and steers them away from trouble.

“Grassroots projects like this can, and do, make a real difference to young lives and it’s so important that we reach young people before it’s too late.”

Through face-to-face interaction, activity packs and physical activity, an amazing 87 per cent of participants exiting the YOLO programme report felling more confident, able to set and achieve goals and are feeling more optimistic about their future.

Jacqueline Critchley, Newcastle United Foundation Youth Violence Project Coordinator, said: “It has been a pleasure to welcome Kim to our Redheugh Kicks session and to introduce her to some of our incredible participants who we work closely with week-in and week-out.

“It’s been particularly challenging for children and teenagers during the last year and we’ve been in constant contact with each individual to ensure they are supported to engage with schoolwork, spend time with family and friends and stay active.

“Our YOLO sessions are really there to target and address the needs of each young person and to equip them with the skills and confidence in themselves to move away from a lifestyle that will hurt and negatively affect them, their loved ones and the general public.

“Alongside the PCC and Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, we truly believe that we can improve lives to prevent crime in the future and there is no better time to do this than at the start of life.”

For more information on the YOLO project, please visit nufoundation.org.uk or alternatively visit the PCC’s Violence Reduction Unit website here.

NORTHUMBRIA Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness is calling on the people in the North East, particularly women to have their say in the fight against crimes in public spaces like street harassment and violence.

Catching the Metro to work, taking the kids to the beach, walking home from a night out in the city centre – a new online survey aims to understand how safe people feel when going about their daily lives, in our region.

Police and Crime Commissioners have been invited to apply for a Home Office fund specifically aimed at tackling violence against women and girls. And so, Kim McGuinness really wants to hear from local residents about their experiences and what makes them feel uncomfortable or even frightened when they are out and about, day or night.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Our region, thankfully, is one of the safest but I am more than aware there are still places and situations where people feel unsafe and vulnerable and we need to do something about it.

“The terrible experience of Sarah Everard in London struck a chord with so many women I know and the spotlight is on women’s safety now more than ever, and rightly so. Sarah should have been safe, and she wasn’t.

“So I want people to make the most of this opportunity to speak out and tell me what they think so we can improve safety in our region and improve lives for everyone.

“I want to be in a position where we can deliver some really serious solutions to people’s worries and concerns and we want to hear what could be done to make people feel safer.

“We’re lucky to have some wonderful women’s support networks and organisations in our region doing amazing things to help women feel safe but we can all do more. There might be some practical fixes for some areas like more lighting, CCTV and so on, but I really want us to think about creative ways to improve safety as well as the bigger cultural changes that are needed too. Education around attitudes, values and respect for others has to play a part. And this all ties in with the prevention work we have happening in schools and youth organisations through my Violence Reduction Unit.”

“I am determined to make some real improvements in this area and I am grateful to everyone who feels able to share their thoughts and experiences with me, I do understand it’s not always easy but it will help inform plans to keep our communities safe.”

The survey responses will inform a bid for Home Office cash from the £25m Safer Streets 3 programme. The programme focuses on improving the safety of public spaces, particularly addressing crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls and putting measures in place to make people feel safe when in they are out and about.

The survey was launched today and will run until 21 June. Survey findings will be incorporated into the Safer Streets 3 bids, which have to be submitted by 15 July 2021. The Government is expected to announce successful bids at the end of August.

The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. To take the survey, go to: http://bit.ly/NorthumbriaSSFR3