Fall in serious violence

A recent research report by Cardiff University found that serious violence fell substantially in England and Wales last year with the fall driven by reductions among 18- to 30-year-olds.

Cardiff University’s Violence Research Group analysed data from hospital emergency departments, minor injury units and walk-in-centres in England and Wales in 2023.

An estimated 141,804 people with injuries sustained in violence were treated in emergency departments across England and Wales, down 22,919 (14%) compared to the previous year.

In more than 20 years of recording the data, researchers have only seen the level lower once before – in 2020, when violence dropped dramatically during the Covid lockdowns.

In 2021 and 2022, serious violence (defined as requiring emergency hospital treatment) saw big increases as the night-time economy reopened, and pandemic restrictions eased and then ended.

But the latest figures indicate the long-term downward trend since 2001 has re-emerged.

Researchers think the change could be attributable to the effectiveness of violence prevention strategies such as the work being delivered and supported by the country’s Violence Reduction Unit’s – of which Essex VVU is one – as well as some other potential factors, for example the number of young adults living at home with their parents.

Read the full BBC article and associated report here