Beat knife crime and drug gangs and protect young people

We will:

• Encourage the Force to work with the National Crime Agency, ERSOU and other partners to identify and robustly target organized gangs.
• Crack down on illegal drugs that blight communities, dealing with drug-dealing on our streets and work with public health to encourage the increased use of drug- testing on arrest.
• Work with our communities, maintaining their confidence, to use stop and search effectively to target those who have or may commit violence in our communities.
• Build on the success of the Violence & Vulnerability Partnership, by taking a public health approach to addressing serious violence, investing in activity proven to work and intervening early to help those at risk to avoid crime and live successful lives.

This will include:

a. A programme of education to help inform communities on risks of drug gangs and the support and guidance available in combating serious violence.

b. Work with young people to build resilience, and strengthening those factors which are known to prevent and reduce serious violence.

c. Work with social care and other partners to deliver targeted programmes early with a focus on at-risk groups, such as those at risk of falling out of education.

d. Implement interventions at reachable moments across Essex, such as youth workers at accident and emergency departments.

e. A programme of intensive interventions, targeting those already involved in knife crime and gang activity to help them to change the course of their life.

• Bring together partner organisations to fulfill our obligations under the Government’s Serious Violence Duty. Jointly respond to serious violence and effectively target resources across the system.