by Chief Inspector Jack Rowlands
In the midst of dealing with one of the greatest challenges of our time there is still another virus gripping our capital – violence.
As someone who has spent years in the Metropolitan Police Service, a major component part of tackling violence is our strong commitment to enforcement, a critical part of suppressing violence. The work we all do around enforcement and securing criminal justice outcomes goes a long way to making our capital safer.
However, I have seen how preventative programmes can complement enforcement tactics.
By preventing violence before it has happened or by diverting people who are at risk away from being victims or perpetrators of violence, we can reduce violence across London in the long term.
For the last ten years, I have been working on developing prevention programmes and, in February, I started at the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) based at City Hall. The VRU’s aim is to implement long-term prevention approaches to reducing violence across London.
So, from a policing point of view what do I want to bring to the VRU’s public health approach to violence reduction?
My intention is to bring more prevention and diversion opportunities into the Met and to use these tactics to help reduce violence in our capital. I am keen to encourage further collaboration between the Met, the VRU, and wider partners to help us all become even more effective at combatting it.
This area of work has recently received positive news, with the VRU now funding two diversion programmes within police custody – DIVERT and ENGAGE.
DIVERT is a Metropolitan Police custody programme designed to divert 18-25 years olds away from offending and into employment, development and education. It is currently based in six custody suites across London.
Working within police custody suites enables us to use that environment as a teachable moment for a young person that has been brought in. DIVERT deploys Custody Intervention Coaches to speak with young adults whilst in custody with the ultimate aim of changing their direction so that they don’t reoffend. Their work is crucial to reducing the chances of that young person becoming a victim or perpetrators of further violence. This isn’t a soft option; this is about that young adult taking responsibility and making better choices to change their life.
DIVERT’s Custody Intervention Coaches have already worked with over 1,000 young people who have been arrested for a range of offences, including drug possession and supply, and the possession of knives. Just under half of them are now in employment, education, or training. The other half have been given mentoring, information, advice, and guidance. Only a handful of young people reoffend having gone through this programme.
Additionally, the VRU will also be funding ENGAGE in Holborn and Islington police custody designed to help 10-18-year-olds that come into custody move away from crime and violence.
I am an optimist by nature and remain confident that through innovative and timely programmes like this, we can reduce violence in our city and empower London’s young people to choose better paths in life.