16 September 2026: PCC calls on government to commit to long term funding for VRP
London: Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has called on the government to commit to essential long term and sustainable investment in violence prevention.
The PCC said he is deeply concerned that the government plans to cut funding for Violence Reduction Partnerships (VRPs) by a third – despite it acknowledging the vital work of VRP’s is crucial to the pledge to halve knife crime and make our streets safer.
He said he had serious concerns that it would not be possible to maintain and continue to improve on the progress that has been made to prevent and tackle youth violence and knife crime without long term and sustainable investment.
Speaking as he opened the National Violence Reduction Unit Directors’ Conference in Birmingham, the PCC said: “We need a commitment from government to long term and sustainable investment in violence prevention.
“Short term, uncertain and reduced funding will adversely impact our ability to attract and retain staff which adversely impacts our ability to commission and deliver quality services – which are so important for our most vulnerable children.
“The achievements of our West Midlands VRP and Violence Reduction Unit’s nationwide are significant and illustrate that prevention, early intervention and diversion really do work.
“Now is not the time to reduce investment in Violence Reduction Units. The government needs to re-think its plans and commit to long term and sustainable investment in violence prevention.”
