“The impact of the three recent murders within our region have been felt deeply by all within the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP).
We cannot imagine the impact it has had on our communities and offer our condolences to all those affected; the victims, their families and friends, and the wider community.
What has occurred has made us determined to continue with our work engaging with all sections of the community – especially at-risk young people. We take a long-term approach to reducing serious violence by changing attitudes and behaviours and improving relationships within our communities. The MVRP is committed to understanding what motivates serious violence and investing in programmes, interventions and research that aims to reduce these incidents in the long-term.
As has been said on many previous occasions, we cannot simply arrest our way out of serious violence. We have to address the root causes of unrest by intervening in lives from the womb to young adulthood and beyond. Many of the programmes we have funded and supported have already made a positive contribution to the direction of young people, their families, and their communities. The impact of that may not always be seen immediately. We believe that it will demonstrate that breaking the cycles of violence and trauma will be sustainable.
The MVRP will continue to work closely with our partners to support those affected by these tragic events and together take a collective, preventative approach to reducing serious violence. We believe that all communities in Merseyside have the right to be free from violence to provide the best chances for all.
We urge anyone with information regarding serious crime within Merseyside, to contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Silence is not an option.”
Detective Superintendent Siobhan Gainer
Head of the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership