Violent attacks on the Island fell during the COVID pandemic with nearly 300 fewer injuries than last year.
It’s said that the downward trend continues on the Isle of Wight due to positive policing work and work at the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).
Figures revealed from the Island’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP) show there had been an 18% decrease in violence with injury incidents —with 284 fewer reports than in the previous year.
Between 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021, 1,300 incidents were recorded compared to 1,584 in 2019/20.
The CSP say the effects of the COVID pandemic had been noticeable as the recorded decrease was double that of the previous reduction between 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Violence without injury had seen a smaller reduction of 8%, with 124 fewer reported crimes.
VRUs have been established as part of a Home Office initiative, over the last couple of years, to tackle the root causes of violence through early interventions with under 25s. On the Island, the interventions have helped and targeted more than 140 young people including helping their mental health and increasing employment opportunities.
The police had also been successful in work tackling violent offenders, with multiple prosecutions over the assessment period.
3 people who seriously assaulted a man and committed a burglary in Ryde were jailed for more than 33 years. Timothy Brown, Graham Smith and Louise Spence stole £1,500 in cash from the address and a man in his 40s sustained injuries to his face, back and arm, caused by a knife.
It also included the sentence increase for violent burglar Darren Rose, to 9 years, after causing grievous bodily harm with intent and aggravated burglary, hitting his victims over the head with wine bottles.
Another area that falls under the violence header is reported incidents of stalking and harassment which, unlike the other areas, has seen an upward trend with an increase of 280 incidents compared to the previous year.
The CSP say this is partially due to a change in the way the Home Office records the offences of harassment, malicious communications and stalking and an increase in counter-allegations.
Should say ‘reported’ violent attacks. A lot of people don’t report because they feel nothing will happen, and in most cases they are right.
Spot on Fred, and just await the enrichment yet to arrive.
That’s right Fred and I am one of them.
Fed up with reporting and just being ignored.
So don’t waste my time, hopes and effort anymore reporting to a disinterested police force.
One wonders now that the pubs and clubs are open again, the incidents of violence will increase again.
During that period was back-end of lockdown and restrictions on hospitality venues ie. bars / clubs / restaurants.m meant very little trade activity.
Violence (reported, or otherwise) is down ?
Surely that’s to be expected, hardly an achievement by the IOW population.