New violence prevention strategy published

Backed by more than £2 million of Scottish government investment this year, the Violence Prevention Framework is the first co-ordinated strategy for Scotland to tackle the issue.

Priorities include preventing young people engaging in violence, helping older offenders with a history of knife-carrying via targeted activity, and extending the hospital-based ‘Navigator’ approach which helps support people with multiple complex issues, including problematic drug and alcohol use, so they can access the appropriate services, and stop the revolving door of harm.

Victims minister Siobhian Brown said: “Violence and the threat of violence is a complex issue that, if not tackled, can escalate and cause harm, affecting society for generations. It can affect anyone, anywhere – but it does not affect people and communities equally. Poverty and inequalities increase the likelihood of both becoming a victim of violence and of becoming involved in such offending - which is why our Vision for Justice emphasises the importance of the wider public health approach to continuing to cut crime.

“For a decade-and-a-half we have made significant strides in reducing violence, and this new framework can take us further, ensuring that everyone plays their part in preventing violence wherever it persists. This first co-ordinated action plan of its kind in Scotland will support a national partnership approach, backed by investment and an ambitious programme of work, to prevent violence from happening in the first place – ensuring more people and communities are able to live safer lives, free from violence.”

Christine Goodall of Medics Against Violence said: “All of us at Medics against Violence are delighted to see the launch of Scotland’s first national Violence Prevention Framework. The framework sets out what we can all do working in partnership with colleagues and communities across Scotland to continue to drive forward the violence prevention agenda.

“These are challenging times and while it is vital that we continue to innovate in terms of violence prevention we should also seek out evidence of what already works to put that into practice at scale wherever possible. Central to this should be the voices of the individuals and communities most impacted by violence because in understanding violence from their perspective we will find sustainable solutions.”