OVER a million pounds has been secured to tackle violent crime.

The three initiatives, Trauma Informed Lancashire, DIVERT Youth, and ED Navigators have secured the combined £1,036,181 in Government funding.

Trauma Informed Lancashire is a multi-agency initiative with ambitions for public and third sector organisations across the county to further progress ways of working with people who have experienced psychological trauma. The funding will be used to develop and deliver training programmes to educate professionals working in policing, healthcare, and social care on the latest thinking on trauma.

DIVERT Youth is a new extension of the existing DIVERT programme but with mentors bringing a dedicated focus to a younger age group. 10-17 year olds who have committed a less serious offence will be offered support to help them to steer their lives into a more positive direction.

The ED Navigator programme first launched in Blackpool and later Preston to offer support to young people who arrive at hospital with violence related injuries and those who feel they are living in dangerous situations.

Det Ch Supt Sue Clarke, head of Lancashire Violence Reduction Network said: “In over 30 years as a police officer I have seen the impact that childhood trauma can have on people’s lives. Listening to people who have come into contact with services and to professionals working in services, it’s clear that this training can make a positive difference to people’s lives in the short as well as long term. There has been real demand for professionals to be educated in trauma informed approaches and we’re delighted to be enabling this to happen.”

Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said:

"I'm really pleased that additional funding from Government has been secured that will support our work to tackle crime, prevent it from happening in the first place and keep people safe, whilst ensuring those who require support get what they need.

“The Lancashire Violence Reduction Network and similar organisations across the country, have again been funded this year by Government to help tackle crime, support young people and back our police with the resources they need to make communities safer.

"By working together with partners through the Network we can stop people falling into a cycle of involvement in the criminal justice system, whilst also getting tough on offenders, particularly reoffenders, as I lead the fight against crime in Lancashire."