Supt Georgie Garvey signing a 'safer, stronger Merseyside' pledge
A new directory which details the wide range of initiatives working to combat serious violence across Merseyside goes live today.
The Merseyside Serious Violence Asset Directory details 481 projects and schemes running across the region focused on improving safety and preventing harm.
The resource is being published on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s website so organisations, community groups and members of the public can access it and find programmes and interventions in their area, enabling them to work together to reduce serious violence and support victims and communities.
It’s the first time a comprehensive directory of all the organisations and programmes working across Merseyside to fight and prevent serious violence has been produced and it features sports, arts, and recreational clubs.
It reveals that from the 481 initiatives running across Merseyside, 289 are designed specifically for young people and there are more than 100 youth and community centres across Merseyside.
The directory is the result of an extensive mapping exercise led by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Emily Spurrell, and supported by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP) and all the organisations responsible for delivering the Serious Violence Duty.
Three months of research were undertaken between January and March, including seven workshops with 49 professionals and input from 110 stakeholders from all areas of Merseyside.
“We know how important partnership working is in the fight against serious violence.
“This directory is designed to help improve the collective understanding of the interventions and projects working across Merseyside. It means that at the click of a button, professionals and communities can increase their knowledge of the programmes and initiatives working in their area and access the information they need to work together to prevent and reduce serious violence.”
Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell
“One of our key priorities is to share data and evidence between organisations to better inform the work to combat serious violence.
“The Merseyside Serious Violence Asset Directory will be invaluable for partners and communities, making it easier than ever before to deepen their understanding and knowledge of the interventions available across Merseyside and work together to respond to violence in their areas.”
Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership’s Director Supt Georgie Garvey
What is the Serious Violence Duty?
The Serious Violence Duty places a statutory responsibility on ‘specified authorities’ including the local authorities, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue, the Probation Service, Youth Offending Teams, and Integrated Care Boards, to prevent people from becoming involved in, and to reduce instances of, serious violence.
The PCC is the lead convenor of the Serious Violence Duty and assists the specified authorities with implementing the Duty and is responsible for monitoring progress.