SomersetViolence Reduction Partnership
Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) is a subgroup of the Safer Somerset Partnership (SSP), which enables partners to work together to understand and reduce serious violence.
Our aim is to ensure we have a multiagency approach to reduce Serious Violence in our local communities. This will be implemented by identifying and delivering the most effective methods of how to reduce violence.
Somerset VRP also works alongside the relevant grant holders and agencies who play an important role in preventing further harm. It is important for us to develop resilience in the community whilst ensuring those already exploited are fully supported with the appropriate organisations.
Plans for 2025-2026
We will prioritise preventing and
reducing harm from the following
serious violent crimes:
- Knife crime,
- Street based violence (focus U25s),
- Sexual violence.
With an additional focus when these
crime types are linked to exploitation
and/or occur in high harm locations.
Annual Report 2024-2025
Serious violence has a devastating impact on victims and their families, instils fear within communities and is extremely costly to society.
Incidents of serious violence have been increasing in England and Wales since 2014.
The Serious Violence Duty began on the 31st January 2023 and sets out statutory requirements for working together on reducing serious violence.
In Somerset this work is coordinated through the Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP).
Somerset VRP
2024-2025 achievements
Somerset VRP is the coming together of professionals from agencies such as police, the local authority, health, probation, fire and rescue and the voluntary sector.
“Our collective vision is to eliminate serious violence, protect the vulnerable and create safer communities, through the opportunities provided by the evolving Violence Reduction Partnership”
Community Safety Partnerships have accountability for ensuring that a strategy is in place to prevent and reduce serious violence. In February 2024, specified authorities in Avon and Somerset agreed the mandatory needs assessment and strategy would be pan Avon and Somerset and overseen by a regional executive Avon and Somerset VRP board, coordinated by a team at the OPCC.
They also agreed that each local authority in the area will coordinate their own partnership group to produce a local needs assessment and strategy to inform the overarching Avon and Somerset strategy. In Somerset, the local partnership group is called Somerset VRP and is part of the Safer Somerset Partnership, managed by Somerset Council from within the Community Safety Team. The VRP functions are supported by a strategic lead, manager, project officer and comms provision from within the council.
The work of the VRP is alsosupported by the Avon and Somerset Police Early Intervention Team who provide extra resource to identify and engage young people at risk.
This year the VRP have funded North Somerset Council to provide additional data analysis and Avon and Somerset Police to support the running of Safer Somerset Priorities, the VRP’s tactical function for responding to serious violence.
The Avon and Somerset Police, Early Intervention Team (EIT) for Somerset.
The Somerset EIT include:
- 2 x Sergeants,
- 4 x Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs),
- 2 x Police Constables.
Their role has been to identify children at risk of violence and ensure the correct information is shared with partners about any concerns, and for each child to have an offer of support or intervention. They also engage with partners, schools and communities to promote the prevention of violence and expand opportunities for community groups to provide a sense of belonging for young people.
For more information contact the EIT Inspector: michael.payne2@avonandsomerset.police.uk
In the last year Somerset EIT have:
- Conducted 182 school engagements.
- Led on 2 town centre problem solving plans to reduce youth violence.
- Reviewed 204 young people at risk of violence, and arranged interventions or support for 114 of them.
- Attend out of court panels and LCN meetings.
- Delivered 18 community pop ups & 2 partnership engagement events.
- Supported 3 police operations aimed at reducing violence or exploitation.
- Provided comms and training on knife crime for PRUs, school safeguarding leads and transport providers.
Multi-agency problem solving.
This year, police EIT Sgt Charmaine Dyne, led 2 multi-agency problem solving plans to improve feelings of safety and reduce incidents of violence effecting young people in the top effected locations in Somerset, Cornhill through to High Street, Bridgwaterand East Street, Taunton.
Since onset there has been a 52% reduction in youth violence in the Taunton hotspot and the risk of harm remained more static in the Bridgwater hotspot.
Overview
Five years of data analysis of the locations told us that people change, but locations do not and 1 in 5 offenders of violence are already known to police for previous incidents at the location. In addition, over 1300 young people & local business were surveyed to inform the plan.
The plan included:
- Youth hubs in key locations at key times.
- Police and town warden presence at key times.
- Advice for local business on how to respond to concerns.
- Information leaflets for parents sent with all police ASB letters.
- Active bystander programs in local schools & countywide.
- Bystander training for NTE professionals.
VRP InitiativesAcross Somerset 2024-25
ADMIT
Turning Point Services (part of Somerset Drug and Alcohol Service) run a project called ‘Admit’ at the Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil General Hospital A&E departments over the weekends.
Across 2023/24, 80 young people (up to the age of 25 years) who attended hospital due to substance misuse, overdose, injury due to violence, or where there are concerns related to criminal exploitation and/or safeguarding received brief substance misuse interventions from Turning Point Support Workers.
Sport Mentoring
Sports mentors provide support to young people identified as being at risk of ASB, providing holistic mentoring and integration into local community activities.
Across 2023/24, the Somerset VRP worked in partnership with the Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership to obtain funding from the Crime Prevention through Sport Fund, which has enabled boxing clubs to be facilitated in Highbridge and Bridgwater, with the aim of reaching young people. Jump start sports mentoring used sport to connect with 27 young people.
Identified young people are given support to build resilience, self-esteem to help them engage in community activities as part of a healthier lifestyle and ultimately overcome barriers that might have prevented them from participating in positive activities.
Teachable Moments
In 2023/24, Youth Justice support workers and Education Inclusion Coordinators worked with 82 young people who were at risk of exclusion across 2022/23. This support included empowering the school to keep the young person in class.
An additional 1,000 pupils were reached through all year group assemblies in one targeted school.
Violence Prevention Lessons
This teachable moments program will focus on delivering tailored violence prevention lessons to groups or individuals identified by their secondary school or police.
Social Skills Training
This teachable moments program will focus on delivering tailored healthy relationships interventions to groups or individuals identified by their secondary school or police.
ContactSomerset VRP
If you have any questions for the Somerset Violence Partnership, please email communitysafetyteam@somerset.gov.uk
Contact FormSomerset VRP
LatestNews
April 2025 Hub Newsletter
As we reflect on another year of challenges, progress, and collaboration, we are proud to
share updates on our ongoing work to prevent violence and create safer communities for
young people across Avon and Somerset.
ASVRP Reaches Nearly 19,000 Young People in 2023-2024
The Avon and Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership (ASVRP) has helped nearly 19,000 young people this past year through a range of tailored programs aimed at reducing violence in local communities. ASVRP also provided training and support to over 1,600 professionals...
September VRP Director’s Blog
I would like to dedicate this blog to the ‘Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Plan’ draft priorities and consultation.
Collaborative working
Since becoming the new Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, I have heard about the numerous innovative knife crime prevention interventions being delivered across the region.
July VRP Director’s Blog
As we approach the end of another academic year, I would like to use this blog to celebrate the successful interventions our Violence Reduction Partnership spokes and partners have delivered in collaboration with education providers.
The Crime Prevention Through Sport Fund
Crime Prevention Through Sport Fund is open for applications.
The deadline for applications is Monday 29th July 2024.
June VRP Director’s Blog
Following last month’s elections for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) I have been delighted to welcome our new PCC, Clare Moody.
May VRP Director’s Blog
Avon and Somerset is a diverse area, encompassing an energetic city, active towns and villages as well as vast open countryside.
March VRP Director’s Blog
First VRP Director’s monthly blog.
Uniting across Avon and Somerset to keep our young people and communities safe from serious violence
PartnersWe Work With
Somerset
Bath and North East Somerset
South Gloucestershire
North Somerset
Bristol