A key element of a public health approach is the skilled use and interpretation of data, to develop a comprehensive evidence base of the local picture of serious violence, to ensure an effective response. In practice this means that the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) recognises the need to gather evidence, intelligence, and undertake analysis to understand the local picture of serious violence, target resources effectively and efficiently, and monitor the impact of the local response.

Key outcomes of this approach are:

✅ Through the Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) the VRP will have a deeper, on-going understanding of the nature of serious violence and the people and locations impacted, to focus the response to serious violence on priority people and locations.

✅ The Response Strategy will be evidenced-based, including evidence of the impact of current activities and ‘What Works’ to prevent and reduce serious violence.

✅ The interventions will be commissioned according to the findings of the SNA, providing a tailored response to the issues identified.

The SVD places a requirement on the VRP to share information to enable the reduction of serious violence in the area. To facilitate this sharing, the VRP will develop sustainable and consistent sharing of Police data into partnerships using PowerBI, collaborate and co-produce the SNA, and progress Governance arrangements to enable clearer data sharing.

The VRP’s Data Strategy can be found by following the link at the bottom of this page.