The Safer Wolverhampton Partnership is seeking views on its draft Serious Violence and Exploitation Strategy 2019 to 2022, which brings together the work being done to address issues of violence, gangs, modern slavery, child sexual exploitation and organised crime, in a bid to tackle them in a holistic manner.
It focuses on a strengthened partnership response, early interventions and preventative measures alongside enforcement action to address the root causes of violence. In particular, the strategy seeks to tackle 'county lines' and the misuse of drugs, improve early intervention and prevention, support communities and partnerships, and ensure effective law enforcement and an effective response from the criminal justice system.
Mark Taylor, Chair of the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, said: "Whereas previously we had separate strategies for each type of exploitation, Wolverhampton's new Serious Violence and Exploitation Strategy will enable agencies to robustly address all these issues together rather than individually.
"It recognises that offending behaviour is changing and becoming more complex, and so seeks to tackle the root causes of violence and exploitation. We will do this through a strengthened partnership approach which balances enforcement action with early intervention and prevention."
To have your say, please visit Serious Violence and Exploitation 2019 to 2022; alternatively, comments can be emailed to safer@wolverhampton.gov.uk. The closing date for feedback is 12 March, 2019.
Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "This is a key opportunity to influence how services will be delivered over the next few years, so please take a few moments to have your say."
To find out more about the work of the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, please visit Safer Wolverhampton Partnership.
Download: Wolverhampton Serious Violence and Exploitation Strategy