Serious Youth Violence - Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership

What is youth violence?

The Avon & Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership embraces a priority focus on the prevention and reduction of public space violence for under 25’s (children and young people); including homicide, attempted homicide, robbery, wounding, grievous bodily harm, knife and gun crime, alcohol and drug related violence and areas of criminality where serious violence or its threat is inherent, such as county lines and modern slavery.

Serious youth violence can include:

Serious Violence, including serious youth violence
Sexual Violence
Serious and Organised Crime, including drug distribution networks
Human Trafficking/Modern Slavery
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Persistent or escalating Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Factors that can increase RISK of Serious Youth Violence:

Children with low self-esteem or self-confidence
Lack of friends in the same age group
Living in a chaotic or dysfunctional household (including parental substance misuse, mental health issues, parental criminality
History of domestic abuse
History of neglect
History of familial sexual abuse
Learning difficulties
Unsure of their sexual orientation or unable to talk to their family about it
Associating with young people who are being sexually exploited
Homelessness
Living in residential care or are a Young Carer themselves
Experiences of loss or death

These are just some of the circumstances that may leave children vulnerable to abuse or exploitation – it is not exhaustive.

Where to report concerns

Exploitation

Avon & Somerset Police – for professionals with concerns about exploitation of children or vulnerable adult

Report here

Other crime or incident

Avon & Somerset Police – for professionals and general public to report other crime (except exploitation)

Report here

Anonymous reporting

Crimestoppers
– for general public and young people

Report here

Reporting unsafe locations

StreetSafe
– to report locations in the community that feel unsafe

Report here

Support for young people and families

Town Centre Safety and Young People

Town centre safety and young people – Recognising and responding to situations to stay safe while visiting a town centre.

Somerset remains a safe place to live, but like many areas of the UK , there are locations that experience higher levels of concerns around violence. These are sometimes known as hotspots. Most violence in these areas will involve adults. Incidents affecting young people in Somerset remain comparatively low, but it is important to take steps to improve safeguarding and reduce the risk of harm.

Somerset and Knife Crime

Somerset and Knife Crim e – If you have information about knife crime in your area and you are nervous about going to the police, phone Crimestoppers.

Somerset remains a safe place to live and knife crime offences are relatively low, representing less than 5% of recorded serious violent crimes. When incidents do occur they are most likely to involve adults and can occur in the home as well as in the community.

Knife crime includes:
– carrying a knife or trying to buy one if you are under 18
– threatening someone with a knife
-carrying a knife that is banned
– a murder where the victim was stabbed with a knife
– a robbery or burglary where a thief carried a knife as a weapon

The Ben Kinsella Trust

The Ben Kinsella Trust – The Ben Kinsella Trust is a charity that tackles knife crime through education and campaigning. Visit for advice for parents, carers and professionals about talking to young people about knife crime visit this website.

Fearless (Crimestoppers)

Fearless.org - Fearless is a site where you can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality. What makes this site different is they also provide you with a safe place to give information to us about crime – 100% anonymously.

Fearless are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 365 days a year for you.

It’s important to remember that Fearless are not a replacement for the emergency services so our advice, if something is happening that needs immediate action – ring 999.

Youth Hubs

The Violence Reduction Partnership as part of the Highlight Scheme have set up Youth Hubs with Young Somerset in both Bridgwater and Taunton.

– The Bridgwater Hub is run from 4pm to 6pm on Fridays in Coffee#1, Fore Street
– The Taunton Hub is run from 3pm to 5pm on Saturdays in McDonalds, East Street

The hubs are part of a series of initiatives being put in place in response to young people asking for more information and advice about safety and also how to access youth provision. Young people and parents or guardians can visit a Hub whilst in town and find out more.

Violence Against Women and Girls

Safer Streets Awareness – Nobody should be scared to walk the streets alone

Where can you make a report about a public place where you have felt unsafe?
StreetSafe StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk)
This is a pilot service for anyone to anonymously tell us about public places where you have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, eg street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, eg being followed or verbally abused.

Help and support is also available at Somerset and Avon rape and sexual abuse support (SARSAS). Call 0808 801 0456 or 0808 801 0464 Mon and Fri: 11am – 2pm, Tue, Wed and Thu: 6pm – 8pm or people can access online chat via sarsas.org.uk and E-support by emailing support@sarsas.org.uk

Practitioner resources

Guides and Tools:

Child Exploitation Screening Tool

Child Exploitation Screening Tool – A toolkit to assist with the identification of exploitation of a child or young person.

SSCP Serious Youth Violence Bite-size Briefing

Serious Youth Violence Bite-Size Briefing

Knife Crime workbook – Fearless/Crimestoppers

Knife Crime workbook

This resource has been produced for professionals working with young people throughout the UK. It provides information about knife crime such as the law, including joint enterprise and stop & search. It also includes clarification on some misconceptions young people may have about knife crime. You can use this resource to help you to discuss young people’s perceptions, stimulate debate and encourage conversation around crime and crime reporting

Snitching: The Bystander Approach workbook – Fearless/Crimestoppers

Snitching – The Bystander Approach workbook

This resource has been produced for professionals working with young people throughout the UK. It provides information about Fearless.org and discusses the barriers to reporting crime including the myths around snitching. It introduces the Bystander Approach and provides information on how you can talk to young people about being an active bystander. You can use this resource to help you to discuss young people’s perceptions, stimulate debate and encourage conversation around crime and crime reporting.

A guide to knife harm for parents and carers – The Ben Kinsella Trust

A guide to knife harm for parents and carers – The Ben Kinsella Trust

Facts to help you feel more confident when talking to your child about knife harm, as well as practical help and guidance, and where to find support

Youth Justice Resource Hub

Youth Justice Resource Hub

This contains a selection of resources including references to relevant research, practice examples, case management guidance and national policy and toolkits.

No Knives Better Lives

NoKnivesBetterLives.com

Supporting young people to make more positive choices when it comes to knife crime and youth violence. No Knives, Better Lives is a prevention, early intervention and education programme in Scotland. We help youth workers and practitioners working with young people to empower those who may be at risk of youth violence to choose a better path.

Knife Crime: A Problem Solving Guide [College of Policing and NPCC]

Knife Crime: A Problem Solving Guide

This guide is grounded in the best available evidence of what is effective in fighting crime. The guide has a strong focus on using data to understand problems, design responses, measure effectiveness and drive improvement.