Violence Reduction Unit
Encyclopedia
The Violence Reduction Unit was established in January 2005 by the Strathclyde
, Scotland
, police
to target all forms of violent behaviour. Adopting the public health approach as described in the WHO
’s World Report On Violence and Health (2002), the unit developed simple aims: to reduce violent crime and behaviour by working with agencies in the fields of health, education, social work, etc to achieve long-term societal and attitudinal change by focusing on enforcement, to contain and manage individuals who carry weapons or who are involved in violent behaviour. The unit also aims to explore best practices and develop sustainable, innovative solutions to this deep rooted problem.
In April 2006 the Scottish Executive (now Government) extended the VRU’s remit nationwide, thus creating a national centre of expertise on violent crime to work alongside the Government’s Violence Reduction Team. Today, Scotland is the only country in the world with using the public health approach to violence and the VRU are the only police members of the World Health Organisation’s Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA).
Part funded by the Scottish Government, the VRU targets violence in all its forms – from violence on the streets and domestic abuse to bullying in schools and the workplace.
A key part of the VRU’s work is developing early years’ initiatives that support parents and those involved in teaching young children, people who give children the skills that will protect them from becoming involved in violence
The VRU co-ordinates the Scottish Government / ACPOS Anti-Violence Campaign, which runs annually in forces across Scotland.
In 2008 the VRU set up its gangs initiative, the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV), in the East End of Glasgow. Using a partnership approach that includes police, social services, education and a host of others, the initiative tackles gang activity through operational activity, diversion projects and help with careers, education and anger management. So far more than 200 young men have joined the £5m initiative.
The unit works closely with Medics from across Scotland in the charity 'Medics Against Violence' set up by Dr Christine Goodall, Dr Mark Devlin and Dr David Koppel, surgeons from Glasgow. The medics intervene with secondary pupils educating about many of the risks around violence and its consequence. Together with the VRU the medics provide training to dentists to intervene in domestic violence whilst the patient is in the dentists chair.
The VRU is committed to working with early years practitioners- supporting children and parents. It has given evidence to Government finance committees on preventative spend in both England and Scotland, urging the support of parenting programmes and support for children in developing life skills as a way to reduce violence in the long term.
The VRU won an award from the Centre for Social Justice in 2011 for innovation in public service, receiving the award from Ian Duncan Smith.
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
to target all forms of violent behaviour. Adopting the public health approach as described in the WHO
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
’s World Report On Violence and Health (2002), the unit developed simple aims: to reduce violent crime and behaviour by working with agencies in the fields of health, education, social work, etc to achieve long-term societal and attitudinal change by focusing on enforcement, to contain and manage individuals who carry weapons or who are involved in violent behaviour. The unit also aims to explore best practices and develop sustainable, innovative solutions to this deep rooted problem.
In April 2006 the Scottish Executive (now Government) extended the VRU’s remit nationwide, thus creating a national centre of expertise on violent crime to work alongside the Government’s Violence Reduction Team. Today, Scotland is the only country in the world with using the public health approach to violence and the VRU are the only police members of the World Health Organisation’s Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA).
Part funded by the Scottish Government, the VRU targets violence in all its forms – from violence on the streets and domestic abuse to bullying in schools and the workplace.
A key part of the VRU’s work is developing early years’ initiatives that support parents and those involved in teaching young children, people who give children the skills that will protect them from becoming involved in violence
The VRU co-ordinates the Scottish Government / ACPOS Anti-Violence Campaign, which runs annually in forces across Scotland.
In 2008 the VRU set up its gangs initiative, the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV), in the East End of Glasgow. Using a partnership approach that includes police, social services, education and a host of others, the initiative tackles gang activity through operational activity, diversion projects and help with careers, education and anger management. So far more than 200 young men have joined the £5m initiative.
The unit works closely with Medics from across Scotland in the charity 'Medics Against Violence' set up by Dr Christine Goodall, Dr Mark Devlin and Dr David Koppel, surgeons from Glasgow. The medics intervene with secondary pupils educating about many of the risks around violence and its consequence. Together with the VRU the medics provide training to dentists to intervene in domestic violence whilst the patient is in the dentists chair.
The VRU is committed to working with early years practitioners- supporting children and parents. It has given evidence to Government finance committees on preventative spend in both England and Scotland, urging the support of parenting programmes and support for children in developing life skills as a way to reduce violence in the long term.
The VRU won an award from the Centre for Social Justice in 2011 for innovation in public service, receiving the award from Ian Duncan Smith.