Tackling Serious Violence in all its forms
As a former police officer, I have seen first hand the devastating consequences of violence. I know how easy it can be for young and vulnerable people to cross the line when they feel there is no alternative.
Working alongside our partners, I am determined to tackle the deep-rooted issues that fuel criminal behaviour to permanently break the cycle. Early Intervention and Prevention is a key pillar in my latest Police and Crime Plan, and I am working with a host of organisations to stop crime and violence in its track, providing people with the support and tools they need to change course.
In 2024-25, almost 3,500 young people and over 300 adults were reached through early intervention and prevention schemes in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This was possible thanks to government funding I secured alongside partners as part of the Serious Violence Duty.
In the first quarter of 2025/26, over 250 young people and more than 50 adults have been reached through one of 16 different early intervention and prevention projects. This thematic report will reflect on some of these programmes.
I am happy to report this work has continued. This year, I have secured extra national funding worth £599k for 2025/26 which will sustain our proactive work to prevent serious violence and transform lives.
I am proud of our success, and I hope we will continue to receive national funding to support this important work.
Youth Diversionary Work.
The Commissioner has been working collaboratively with the Constabulary and partners for some time to tackle serious violence in all its guises.
Activity has been coordinated at every level to address risk-taking behaviour, support intervention at the earliest possible opportunity and to reduce vulnerability to exploitation.
A huge programme of diversionary activity has been funded by the Commissioner, predominantly in after-school settings, in each of the county’s six Community Safety Partnership areas using funding allocated through the Serious Violence Duty. Activity consists of sports programmes, art projects and the delivery of court experience days.
Two of these projects – Fenland Youth Work Network and Fenland Youth Tribe – have been awarded the Local Government Chronicle Award for Community Involvement in recognition of their success.
The schemes offer young people aged 11-18 a blend of physical activities, youth cafes and social media engagement in safe spaces where they can connect with trusted adults, build self-esteem, and develop the skills needed to make positive life choices.
Detached Youth Work.
Detached youth work engages young people in community spaces such as parks and shopping centres – places where they choose to spend their time.
This approach has several purposes from building a rapport with young people and supporting their wellbeing through to safeguarding and helping them to make positive choices.
Detached youth work is being delivered in serious violence and anti-social behaviour hotspot areas across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, supported by Cambridgeshire County Council, Romsey Mill and Peterborough City Council. This involves specialist youth workers engaging with young people in the spaces they choose to meet.
- Youth work provider Romsey Mill is delivering weekly sessions in communities in three areas across Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire. Specialist youth workers engage with young people aged 11 to 17 in a variety of ways, providing a supervised space for young people and one-to-one outreach to small cohorts of primary school-age children in years 5 and 6. In 2024/2025, this project supported over 475 young people.
- In Peterborough, Romsey Mill and Serious Youth Violence Workers within Peterborough City Council’s diversion team carry out this activity.
In 2024-25 nearly 200 young people were supported. Commissioner’s Prevention Fund
In May 2025, the PCC unveiled a new Prevention Fund to empower grassroots organisations to support his Early Intervention and Prevention priority. Building on the foundations of the his previous Safer Communities Fund, the new funding scheme awards small grants of up to £5k to Community Safety Partnerships and voluntary and community organisations, based in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, to support their local work to prevent crime (including VAWG) and anti-social behaviour and boost feelings of safety. In the first three months of the fund’s launch, five successful applications shared a total of £19,425. Beneficiaries include Youths of Fenland, Stretham Youth Centre and Huntingdonshire District Council, who are working proactively with young people, helping to prevent their involvement in criminal or anti-social activities.
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