Written question WQ91091

Although policing is a devolved issue and the responsibility of the UK Government, we take the issue of knife crime very seriously.

We work closely with policing colleagues to take a preventative approach to violent crime to keep communities in Wales safe. We believe in addressing the factors which drive serious violence to prevent offending, enabling people to live rewarding, crime-free lives.

The Welsh Government has provided over £662,500 of funding to support the set-up of the Wales Safer Communities Network from 2020-21 to 2023-24. The Network is a strategic voice for Community Safety in Wales, linking up with and providing support to organisations at local, regional, and national levels to coordinate activity and encourage good practice. In particular, we are working closely with the Network and Wales Violence Prevention Unit to support the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty in Wales. The Duty requires partners including Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities and Health Boards to work together to prevent serious violence in their communities.

Welsh Government has also been closely involved in the Wales Violence Prevention Unit’s Wales Without Violence Framework, which brings together a range of evidence and experience on what works to prevent violence, helping partners in Wales invest in strategies and activities that prevent violence among children and young people.