Alongside core Government funding, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) also secures additional grants to tackle priority issues affecting communities across Suffolk. These targeted funds support projects designed to address specific challenges, improve safety, and deliver meaningful local impact.
The Serious Violence Duty is one of the initiatives currently being delivered through this additional funding.
The Serious Violence Duty in Suffolk
Serious violence has a profound impact on victims, families and entire communities. It creates fear, harms wellbeing and places a significant burden on public services.
Across England and Wales, incidents of serious violence have risen faster than other crime types. Every Local Authority area faces its own challenges — but also opportunities — to prevent harm, protect communities and reduce offending.
To address this, the Government introduced a new Serious Violence Duty, requiring public bodies to work together, share data and develop joint solutions.
The Suffolk Serious Violence Duty Partnership was established in late 2022 and includes all statutory duty holders.
The Partnership meets bi-monthly to:
- Monitor local delivery against the Duty requirements
- Annually refresh the Strategic Needs Assessment and Suffolk Response Strategy
- Allocate funding for interventions that support local priorities
Strategic Needs Assessment
Requirement: Duty holders must share data and insights to understand the causes of serious violence.
Suffolk’s response:
The Suffolk Office of Data and Analytics (SODA) completed the county’s initial Strategic Needs Assessment by:
- Defining serious violence for Suffolk
- Analysing crime and public‑sector data
- Collecting feedback from public sector partners, voluntary organisations, service users and residents
This work identified key drivers of serious violence and opportunities for prevention.
Duty Holders
The organisations legally responsible under the Serious Violence Duty are:
- Suffolk Constabulary
- Suffolk County Council
- Suffolk Youth Offending Teams
- Probation Service
- All Suffolk district and borough councils
- Integrated Care Boards
- Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service
Role of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC)
The OPCC has key responsibilities under the Duty, including:
- Allocating Home Office funding to specified authorities
- Supporting partners in delivering their statutory functions
- Monitoring activity and outcomes
- Reporting progress to the Secretary of State
The OPCC plays a key role in supporting the Partnership’s work by managing its funding and submitting quarterly claims to the Home Office. This funding helps bring Suffolk’s Strategic Needs Assessment and Serious Violence Response Strategy to life — not just on paper, but in our communities.
Through these claims, the Partnership can recover the costs of developing the strategy (labour) and delivering practical, meaningful interventions (non-labour). This includes a wide range of initiatives such as youth outreach programmes, counselling and therapeutic support, and mentoring services that help steer young people away from violence and towards safer, more positive futures.
| Period | Cost Type | Funding Allocation (£) | Actual Claim to date (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2023 – 31 Mar 2023 | Labour | 30,000 | 11,378 |
| Non‑labour | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 Apr 2023 – 31 Mar 2024 | Labour | 180,000 | 112,636.86 |
| Non‑labour | 107,118.42 | 107,114.82 | |
| 1 Apr 2024 – 31 Mar 2025 | Labour | 96,302.13 | 96,004.71 |
| Non‑labour | 300,983.74 | 300,983.74 | |
| 1 Apr 2025 – 31 Mar 2026 | Labour | 96,302.13 | 59,976.69 |
| Non‑labour | 300,983.74 | 156,932.85 | |
| Totals | — | 1,111,690.16 | 805,027.67 |