Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)
The PCC was awarded £1,160,000 from the Home Office in 2019 to set up a Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) across Kent and Medway.
The VRU is a partnership between Kent Police, local councils, health service providers and other key agencies to deliver a reduction in violence.
The PCC said: 'Issues around violent crime can not be resolved by Kent Police simply arresting more people. The police and partner agencies need to work together to help lift vulnerable young people out of a life of crime.’
As a result of this more than £600,000 was made available for local organisations to bid into. The evaluation process included identifying applications which clearly met the VRU themes and criteria:
• Protect - reduce vulnerability of communities from the threat of violence
• Pursue - disrupt and prosecute those who are responsible for violence
• Prevent - avoid young people becoming involved in serious violence
• Prepare - ensure we understand and are able to tackle serious violence
Funding recipients
Funding recipients 2019/20
| Organisation | Project | £ |
| HMP Elmley | Offender and family re-engagement work, to reduce violence and gang activity in prison by increasing support from outside of prison | 14,848 |
| Medway Council | Integrated Adolescent Unit, working with families and individuals of concern | 50,000 |
| Kent County Council | 'Making Kent and Medway Adverse Childhood Experiences Aware' event | 8,500 |
| KCC Headstart and the Leigh Acadamies Trust | Training for school staff and peer mentors, plus targeted interventions with young people | 50,000 |
| Kent Gloves ABC CIC | Diversionary activities teaching discipline and fitness to young people in North Kent | 9,000 |
| Medway Council | Re-offending project which requires a young person to participate in scheduled activities or appointments | 50,000 |
| Sheppey Matters | The Mediterranean Diet project, in which participants learn about a healthier, well balanced, nutritious, tasty and budget-friendly diet | 6,030 |
| Sheppey Matters | Sheppey FM radio skills experience programme | 4,140 |
| Forward Trust | Working with female offenders in and out of prison | 45,000 |
| KCC Adolescent service | Youth work focusing on area hot spots to build effective and trusted relationships and getting young people involved in positive activities | 50,000 |
| Canterbury Community Safety Partnership | Part-time Youth Partnership Officer based at Canterbury City Council | 9,500 |
| VRU Project Delivery | Knife wands, trauma packs and first aid training across multiple district areas | 104,000 |
| Street Soccer Foundation CIC | Schools-based programme blending football and mindset training for vulnerable young people at risk of, or involved in, serious violence | 37,200 |
| Maidstone and Mid Kent Mind | Programmes in partnership with Youth Resilience Forum to address knife crime among young people | 31,200 |
| Ashford Community Safety Partnership | CHESS - working with communities to assess how the environment in high-crime areas can be improved | 27,587 |
| Kent Youth Justice | First aid training, to include how to deal with sharp object/knife wounds | 19,000 |
| Maidstone Community Safety Partnership | Voice of Young Maidstone survey to be circulated to 11-18 year olds | 7,000 |
| Circles South East | Keep Safe Programme - education and youth service mentoring | 30,800 |