News
Violent crime reduction initiative launched
04/08/2011
A study, led by Professor Jonathan Shepherd of Cardiff University has found a system which uses data collected from patients at hospital A&Es to help police target hotspots of violent crime in Wales has allowed police in Cardiff to reduce incidents of violent crime by 42%. The research found that data, collected from patients anonymously enables police to gather detailed intelligence on the nature of unreported violent crime and target resources more effectively. The BBC reports that the idea has been trialled in Lanarkshire, as part of a joint initiative between NHS Lanarkshire and the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).
Stewart Maxwell, SNP, MSP for the West Scotland, has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, asking him to bring forward plans for the introduction of the scheme in Scotland. Commenting, he said: “I am more convinced than ever that the introduction of a similar scheme in Scottish hospitals would enable police to better target their resources and help significantly reduce violent crime across Scotland. I have campaigned for a reporting system of violent assaults in Scottish A&Es since 2006 when I undertook a study which found that almost 80% of knife-related injuries were going unreported to police.” He added: “I believe that implementing this system alongside the SNP Government’s plans to reintroduce a minimum price for alcohol would represent a significant step forward in making Scotland safe from alcohol-fuelled violence and crime.”
A Scottish Government Spokespersonsaid: “We strongly support this initiative which has a proven record of reducing incidents of violent crime as well as reducing costs to A&E departments. The Violence Reduction Unit is currently supporting pilots of injury surveillance in a number of hospitals in Lanarkshire. Evaluation and learning around these pilots is ongoing and the lessons from these will be used in any further roll out.”