Violence Reduction Units (VRUs)

Established in 2019, VRUs are non-statutory partnerships operating in the 20 police force areas most affected by serious violence across England and Wales. They are leading and co-ordinating the local response to serious violence, many of which are based on the successful model of Scotland’s VRU.

Responsible for delivering a ‘whole system’ public health approach to tackling violence (like Scotland’s VRU), they bring together key partners to identify the local drivers and root-causes of serious violence and agree and implement a multi-agency response to them.

To this end, VRUs are delivering a range of early intervention and prevention programmes to divert people away from a life of crime. This includes a wide range of approaches including mentoring and trusted adult programmes, intensive behavioural therapies, and sports-based diversionary activities.

The Police Funding Settlement for 2025/26 includes £49.7m for the continuation of work to prevent serious violence, delivered via the VRU programme.

Serious Violence Duty

Introduced through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSC 2022), the Serious Violence Duty requires a range of specified authorities, such as the police, local government, youth offending teams, fire, health, and probation services, to work collaboratively, analyse the local problem, and put in place a strategy to prevent and reduce serious violence within their local communities, enabled by new powers to share data and information.

This financial year (2025/26), the Government has allocated £14.4m to continue the implementation and delivery of the Serious Violence Duty across all 43 police force areas in England and Wales.

Sentencing

Anyone found carrying a knife can face the maximum penalty of 4 years of imprisonment. In recognition of the seriousness of offences related to knives, the law already provides for minimum custodial sentences for repeat knife possession and offences that involve threatening with a weapon. Adults face a minimum of 6 months of imprisonment whilst young people aged 16 or 17 face a four-month Detention and Training Order.

Where someone is harmed by a knife or offensive weapon, there are a range of offences that they may be charged with, such as causing grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences, up to life imprisonment.

Stop and Search Powers

Stop and search is a vital tool for tackling crime, and police officers in England and Wales have long-standing powers to stop and search an individual or vehicle if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is carrying an offensive weapon, stolen goods, drugs or certain other items.

In addition, where serious violence has occurred, or where intelligence suggests it may occur, a senior police officer may authorise police to stop and search any individual or vehicles for offensive weapons or dangerous implements, with or without reasonable suspicion. These authorisations under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 are limited to a particular area for a specific period of time, usually no longer than 24 hours.

In the 12 months to March 2024, police in England and Wales conducted a total of 535,307 stop and searches, of which 16,066 resulted in an offensive weapon or firearm being found and taken off the streets. We will continue to support the police in the proportionate and effective use of these powers.

Young Futures Programme

The Government has also created the Young Futures Programme. This includes the establishment of Young Futures Prevention Partnerships, to intervene earlier to ensure that children and young people that are vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.

As we continue to design Young Futures Prevention Partnerships, we want to ensure that they learn from and build on the work of the 20 VRUs in England and Wales to improve how we identify, reach, and support young people at risk of being drawn into violence.

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