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<p>Tackling serious violence is a top priority for the Government and it is clear
we must continue to step up the response to stop this violence.</p><p>The Serious
Violence Strategy sets out the Government’s approach, which depends on a multi-agency
approach across several sectors. The Strategy places a greater emphasis on early intervention
and prevention to tackle the root causes of serious violence and provide young people
with the skills and resilience to lead productive lives free from crime.</p><p>On
1 April, we launched a consultation on a new legal duty to support a public health
approach to preventing and tackling serious violence. The consultation closed on 28
May, and the Government response to the consultation will be published shortly.</p><p>On
13 March, an additional £100 million to tackle serious violence was announced at the
Spring Statement. £63.4 million of this funding has been allocated to 18 police forces
worst affected by serious violence to support increased police operational activity,
and £1.6m is being used to improve the data available on knife crime to support police
activity. On 17 April, we announced that the remaining £35m of this funding will be
invested in the development of Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) in areas most affected
by serious violence. The VRUs will bring together a range of agencies to address the
causes of violence.</p><p>The Home Secretary has also established a new £200m Youth
Endowment Fund that will provide targeted intervention and support over the next 10
years for those young people most at risk of serious violence. A key purpose will
be to develop the evidence base demonstrating which interventions are most effective
in deterring children and young people away from crime and violence and, since it
will operate for a minimum of ten years, it will have the capacity to bring successful
interventions all the way through from pilot stage to deployment at scale. The Fund
will ensure that this vital learning is shared and help ensure that the most effective
interventions are funded.</p><p>The Youth Endowment Fund became effective from the
start of April. It is independent of Government and is being run by the charity Impetus,
working in partnership with the Early Intervention Foundation and Social Investment
Business. The first funding round is open for applications from 28 May until 23 July.</p>
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