Thousands of victims have turned to Victim Care Hubs for support in the last year, but the rise in youth violence and serious crime shows there is still a long way to go in tackling crime across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
In the past year alone, over 74,000 victims have been offered help through the hubs set up by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones. But with serious violence among young people on the rise, the Commissioner is calling for more action to prevent crime and support those affected.
Data reveals a troubling trend of more young people being involved in serious violence…
In 2022-2023, 17% of serious violence suspects were aged 10-17, up from 10% the previous year, and 21% were aged between 18 and 24.
In 2023-2024, 19.9% of serious violence suspects were aged 10-17 and 23.1% were aged between 18 and 24.
Around 60% of serious violent crime happens in public places, putting communities at risk.
The most common serious violence offence is possession of an offensive weapon.
PCC Donna Jones said:
“These figures should be a wake-up call. We are seeing too many young people involved in serious crime. While we must continue to support victims, we also need to crack down on violence and stop young people from being drawn into crime in the first place.”
The Victim Care Hubs, located in police stations in Portsmouth, Southampton, Basingstoke, and Newport (Isle of Wight), provide specialist, round-the-clock support for victims.
Despite progress in victim support and the drop in crime rates, PCC Donna Jones says there is still too much crime, too many repeat offenders, and too many young people, especially boys and young men aged 10 to 24, getting drawn into violence.
She said:
“That’s why I’m recruiting more police officers, investing in crime prevention projects, youth interventions, and demanding tougher action when it comes to preventing youth violence. More must be done to make our streets safer and to stop young people from targeting each other and becoming involved in the criminal justice system”.
If you or someone you know has been affected by crime, Victim Care Hubs offer free, confidential support. Contact them on 0808 178 1641 or via [email protected] (Monday–Saturday, 08:00-20:00). Outside of these hours, call 0808 168 9111 or use live chat at www.victimsupport.org.uk/livechat.
If we get devolution and a metro mayor she could be gone soon and we wouldn’t have to put up with a pop-up Tory who told us only last month how wonderful she was having reduced crime, yet also told us we were getting more police. A one-stop shop to oversee all the problems will be quickly able to tell that poverty and disaffected youth will obviously lead to crime, and then hopefully all areas will have joined up thinking and treat the cause, not the effect.
Re-open Camp Hill prison and bung all the thugs
inside.
“Drink and drug drivers and persons who abuse people”
It would be full by the end of the year.
Keep our island a safe place, it use to be
safe many years ago.
How about getting custodial sentences for the criminals instead of just patting them on the back and saying please don’t do it again.
At the moment they are laughing all the way home or on to the next crime.
The alleged law on this Island is just a very bad joke.
The Police and Crime Commissioner is paid by the local authority and directly elected by the public. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is run by the Chief Constable, paid by the Force. Whilst it is the PCCs responsibility to hold the Chief Constable to account for the running of the force, the day to day operaion remains the Chief Constable’s responsibility and he or she is therefore responsible for the recruitment and deployment of police officers, PCSOs and civilian staff. How, the, can the PCC claim “That’s why I’m recruiting more police officers”. It is not her job to do this or to decide to do it – it is an operational matter for the force. Her job is to secure the money to pay for it.