News

This week (13 – 19 May) is the National Knife Crime Intensification Week – known as Sceptre – a week of activity across all Police Forces to amplify and showcase the work being done across the country to drive down knife crime. Essex continues to see a 7% reduction in knife enabled reported offences (year […]

A recent research report by Cardiff University found that serious violence fell substantially in England and Wales last year with the fall driven by reductions among 18- to 30-year-olds. Cardiff University’s Violence Research Group analysed data from hospital emergency departments, minor injury units and walk-in-centres in England and Wales in 2023. An estimated 141,804 people […]

It was an honour for the VVU to receive the last High Sheriff certificate from outgoing High Sheriff, Charles Bishop as his term of office ended in April. The VVU had met with Charles and his wife Nellie earlier in the year and explained to them in detail the work the Unit does to tackle […]

Southend-on-Sea has been selected by the British Ironworks to host the Knife Angel during the month of July to highlight the devastating impact of violent crime. Within Essex, the Knife Angel has previously visited Chelmsford, Harlow and Colchester and now the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression will have a month long stay in Southend […]

We are delighted to announce that we have been able to award over £300,000 to 18 Essex-based charities from the 2024/25 VVU community grant. The grants have been given to a wide range of organisations across the county and will enable local charities to help steer young people away from crime, as well as supporting […]

We were delighted to be able to visit the Stanway School, Colchester last week to award our creative writing competition winner her prize. Rebecca, a YR 8 pupil, entered our competition back in October to write a piece of creative writing on the subject of knife harm. The competition was held in partnership with Essex […]