Extra police patrols are now underway across Stockton and Middlesbrough as part of a new effort to tackle knife crime in the community. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland has secured £481,505 in funding to support high-visibility patrols in areas identified as hotspots for this type of offending.
The patrols will focus on five ward areas across Stockton and Middlesbrough, which current data shows account for 11 per cent of all knife crime incidents in the Cleveland area. To ensure resources are used as effectively as possible, Home Office-provided mapping technology is being used to pinpoint specific locations down to a single square kilometre.
This initiative aims to achieve a 33 per cent reduction in knife crime within these targeted areas over the next three years. The work is part of a broader national programme intended to halve knife crime across the country over a decade.
In addition to the increased police presence, the Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV) is focusing its efforts on the same locations. Their work includes initiatives to deter those most likely to become involved in violent behaviour by addressing the root causes of crime.
Residents who have information regarding knife crime are encouraged to contact Cleveland Police on 101.
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