Extra £588k for Nottinghamshire to combat threat of serious violence

The county's Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping welcomed the grant, which will enable the Force to deliver targeted enforcement activity in Nottinghamshire's key violence hotspots.

The funding amounts to £588k and is part of a £130m pot unlocked by the Home Office to tackle serious violent crime - including murder and knife crime - in the coming year.

Mr Tipping said: "I've been calling for additional funding to tackle serious violence for some time and news of Nottinghamshire's slice of this investment is most welcome.

"We have forged a close-knit team with our partners and this is already delivering impressive results, with recent ONS figures confirming a four per cent reduction in knife crime across the county in the year to September 2020 - outperforming the national reduction of three per cent.

"This is always more to do, however, and those who carry knives and are intent on causing harm through violence should know there will be little place to hide with these extra resources."

Caroline Henry, Conservative PCC candidate for Nottinghamshire, has also welcomed the announcement.

“This funding ensures our police have all of the tools and resources they need to tackle violent crime and address its underlying causes in our community, whilst also funding vital early intervention programmes that do positive preventative work with children and young people,” she said.

The funding was announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel and includes £30m to support the police to take targeted action in areas of England and Wales most affected by serious violence and up to £23m for new early intervention programmes to help young people turn their backs on crime.

The funding comes ahead of the introduction of a major criminal justice bill which, among many reforms, will give police new stop and search powers to tackle known knife and weapons carriers.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together.