Plans to invest over £26million to acquire hundreds of new homes and address the growing need for affordable housing in Leicester have been announced by the city council. Leicester City Council intends to buy 371 new properties at a cost of £26.6million. The money will come from £100million of capital set aside by the city council to support the delivery of affordable housing in Leicester and help increase the number of homes available through the council’s housing register. This will include £10.5million from a pot of cash retained from the sale of council properties under the Government’s Right to Buy scheme. The vast majority (366) of the properties being purchased are a mix of bedsits, studios and one-bedroom flats. The council will also buy four 2-bedroom flats and a three-bedroom house as part of the deal. Currently, there are 6,366 households on the council’s housing register, waiting for suitable homes. Of these, over a quarter are waiting for one-bedroom accommodation, with the average waiting time between five months for those assessed as being in the highest priority people, and two years. The Leicester & Leicestershire Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HEDNA) 2017 concluded that the city needs a further 786 new units of affordable housing each year to meet need. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “There is a desperate need for more affordable housing in the city and we are constantly looking for new ways to provide it. “This major investment will significantly increase our housing stock and help address the growing need for affordable homes. “The Government’s Right to Buy scheme means that we have been forced to sell thousands of council houses over the past 30 years. However, we can only keep half of the money raised through these sales and need to spend it within strict time limits, or we risk losing it all together. This means that it is absolutely vital that we reinvest this cash into replenishing our housing stock to help meet the desperate need for more affordable homes in the city.” All existing occupiers affected by the purchase will become council housing tenants at the point of completion and will be asked to sign a tenancy agreement. Their homes will automatically be being added to the council’s ongoing programme of maintenance and energy efficiency improvements as part of the council’s commitment to meet its climate emergency targets. Rents will also help boost the council’s rental income which will be reinvested into maintaining and improving council housing stock. Each year, Leicester City Council loses an average of 400 council homes through the Right to Buy scheme. Over the last forty years, the city council’s housing stock has been reduced from 36,000 to 20,000 homes. As part of its work to address the huge demand for affordable housing in Leicester, the city council has bought 525 properties to be used as council homes since April 2019, at a cost of almost £70million. Alongside this, city council has recently completed its first phase of building new council houses which has seen 29 new homes completed at six sites across the city. Phase two of the house building programme is due to get underway soon, with a further 56 homes are proposed at sites including Saffron Lane velodrome, Rockingham Close in Rowlatts Hill, Hydra Walk in St Peter's, Whitteney Drive in Eyres Monsell and Austin Rise in Netherhall. Leicester City Council News

Whether it’s getting the Christmas list ticked off, that last minute gift for someone special or a treat for ourselves, most of us will be buying more online this festive season. It’s fantastic being able to take advantage of the convenience, choice and value brought by the internet, but unfortunately it is also a favourite haunt of fraudsters, vying to take advantage of the fact that you have so many distractions in the lead-up to Christmas. That why it’s especially important to safeguard yourself, your family and finances when you’re buying online on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or any other day. Attached is our latest Get Safe Online leaflet providing top online shopping tips, but if you want to find out more you can always visit our website at www.getsafeonline.org Message Sent By Get Safe Online Admin (Get Safe Online, Content Director, National)

Oakland Foundation Children’s Charity to Support Coalville Games and Multisport Youth Provision Sessions Coalville Can and Th!nkFC, working in partnership with North West Leicestershire District Council, received funding from children’s charity, Oakland Foundation, to support their Kickstarters youth provision sessions for schoolchildren in years 4, 5 and 6. Bringing together children from several local schools, the project aims to help develop multisport skills over the 6-week programme and provide children with a chance to improve their self-confidence, teamworking and socialisation skills in an environment suitable for any level of skill or ability, whilst also offering a new way to meet and befriend children from other local schools. Coalville Can director Deana Wildgoose said: “This project fits into our wider ambitions to support young people to make a difference in their community by building on their individual strengths and interests. In total 6 young people have undertaken their sports leadership coaching qualification as part of their Kickstart job opportunity and have been supported by staff at NWLDC to deliver their first sessions. “The 6 strong crew have really gelled over the last few months and are now busy planning future sessions at new venues, with the hope of 4 youth provisions every week spread around the Coalville area. “We would like to thank the Oakland Foundation for the funds to purchase some of the equipment needed to deliver the sessions. We hope to continue to work together with the Foundation and continue to support young people to find and follow their passion and make a positive difference in their community." Held weekly between 4:15pm and 5:30pm at the Marlene Reid Centre in Coalville, a safe environment where they will be able to improve their overall physical and mental wellbeing, the first session is free and following sessions charged at £1. After the first 6 weeks, they are hoping to extend session provision to multiple venues, operating at different times, to allow greater access for more children to get involved. Oakland Foundation Trustee, Mark Williams, commented: “The Trustees are delighted to support Coalville Can’s youth initiative, which will help to encourage and engage young people, and as with other projects the Foundation supports, we hope that this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership.”

A New support fund has opened to assist Leicester residents who are on a low income and in need of help this winter. Leicester City Council has been given £3.4million from the Department for Work & Pensions to set up a Household Support Fund, which will help vulnerable people and families to pay their bills. From today (19 November), people will be able to apply to the fund online through the council’s website. They will be able to ask for help with fuel, food and water bills. Staff from Citizens Advice Leicestershire and professionals such as social workers, healthcare workers and housing advisors will also be able to refer people to the fund. As well as asking for help with fuel or food bills, other agencies will be able to refer people who might need help to buy items such as white goods, clothing or bedding, or who have long-standing debts with utility companies. You don’t need to be on benefits to apply to the fund – you just need to be on a low income (less than £356.25 per week) and struggling to make ends meet. At least half of the funding will go to families with children, complementing funding for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, which was used to provide food vouchers for children on free school meals over the recent half-term, and will be used to provide support again over the Christmas holidays and February half-term. The Household Support Fund will run for four months, throughout the winter months, although it’s a limited fund, so it could close sooner, depending on how many applications are received. The city council is currently planning to close the fund for applications on 14 March 2022, with awards being paid out up to 31 March 2022. City mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve provided support for those who need it. We delivered food boxes at the height of the lockdown, and we have run programmes to ensure 16,000 children from low-income families don’t go hungry in the school holidays. We welcome the chance to continue offering this support, which we know can be a vital lifeline. “As winter approaches, we know that there will be families and individuals who are worried about paying their fuel bills and making ends meet, particularly with the recent rises in fuel prices. Using our local knowledge and the expertise that has served us so well during the pandemic, we will target support towards those who need it most, ensuring that this fund is used to help our most vulnerable residents. No-one should have to choose between heating and eating.” The Household Support Fund is part of a national scheme, which will see councils up and down the country and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland share out £500m of Government cash. It is estimated that around 26,000 households in Leicester will face fuel poverty this winter. To apply online, fill in the form at www.leicester.gov.uk/householdsupportfund. Anyone who struggles to apply online should contact c19support@leicester.gov.uk or speak to their local Citizens Advice LeicesterShire for help applying. People with a council support worker can ask them to make an application on their behalf. Leicester City Council News Release dated 19/11/21

Leicester City Council and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) have been successful in two bids for the money, which will be spent on measures including increasing CCTV and providing staff to support police officers at night-time. Council staff will carry out work to improve safety at some of Leicester’s most prominent parks and open spaces after a successful bid for £550,000 of funding by the OPCC. Of this, £374,818 will be spent on city parks, with the rest spent on similar schemes in county districts in Leicestershire. Work begins this week, and will be completed across all sites by the end of February. Victoria Park, Braunstone Park, Abbey Park, Western Park, Bede Park, Aylestone Meadows, Rally Park and Knighton Park in Leicester will all see improvements, with areas of concern having been identified by parks wardens in conjunction with the police and ward councillors. The work involves a mix of safety measures to create safer routes across the sites, including 12 new CCTV cameras, improved route signage for park users and removal or cutting back of shrub areas alongside pathways. This will create sightlines and allow more light to penetrate darker areas. There will also be some new lit bollards installed along the main dual usage walking and cycling pathway through Bede Park. In total, the city council has been awarded around £624,000 to make streets and open spaces safer, with £374,818 for parks and £249,491 to be spent on a city centre project called SWAN – Safety for Women At Night. The SWAN project will look at women and girls’ safety concerns at night in the city centre, and then develop a tailored campaign to increase confidence and encourage wider reporting of challenging or anti-social behaviour. More CCTV monitoring will be funded through the project, and there will be an increase in staff supporting police officers at evenings and night-time in the city centre, particularly over the Christmas period. The money will also be used to train staff who work for pubs, restaurants and clubs – known as the night-time economy – in the ‘Bystander’ approach. This initiative encourages anyone who sees harmful behaviour to report it and to challenge it, if safe to do so. The idea is to send a message that violence and intimidation is never acceptable. It explains how to report issues and when to report, even if the issue may seem minor. The project will also see free membership of the City Watch scheme offered to night-time economy venues for a limited period, with a view to venues extending the membership as they learn the benefits of the scheme, which acts like a ‘neighbourhood watch’ for businesses to share information. Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “This funding is fantastic news for our communities and will not only deter crime and violence, it will also give women additional confidence when enjoying our public spaces and parks, particularly when alone. “Prior to applying for funding, we surveyed women and girls across the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area, including victims of street crime and harassment, to help improve our understanding of where women and girls feel most vulnerable and at risk. These contributions have helped to inform our plans and prioritise resources to where they are needed most and we are very grateful to all those who shared their experiences. “It is the right of every woman to feel safe whether they are at home, online or in our public spaces. Improving CCTV coverage and increasing police visibility around key areas of the city will go some way to making women feel safer and increasing the support available should they require help quickly. We will also fund a behaviour change campaign to address the deep-rooted attitudes that underpin gender violence as part of a wider preventative approach.” Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair is responsible for the city’s parks and open spaces, and also chairs the Safer Leicester Partnership, where agencies work together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. He said: “I am delighted that we have been successful in achieving this substantial Government funding to help make our streets and open spaces safer. “Often, it is about the perception of a place as safe. We need to make sure people do not feel fearful when they are out and about – especially women, and especially at night. We want our parks and our city centre night-time economy to be welcoming places for everyone. “Intimidating or anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and we will be using this funding in two ways – to make tangible and instant changes that will improve safety; and to work on changing people’s behaviour and mindset in the long term so that everyone can feel safe.”

A Programme of installing new parking areas and laybys in residential areas across Leicester gets underway this month. Leicester City Council is spending over £450,000 on seven schemes to tackle parking issues by creating new parking bays and improving existing ones. The scheme will concentrate on streets in Aylestone, Beaumont Leys, Thurncourt, Western and North Evington wards, and will create up to 64 new parking spaces for residents. The first two schemes will get underway from Monday November 22. Work at Stornaway Road, in Thurncourt, will involve modifying and extending three existing parking areas to create 21 new spaces, as well as installing improved drainage systems. Eight new spaces will also be created at Farnham Street in North Evington. The combined cost of the two schemes will be around £180,000. Two schemes are due to begin on November 29, including creating nine new spaces at Forbes Close in Glenfield, at a cost of £72,000, while a further £45,000 will be spent in Scalpey Close, Beaumont Leys, to create seven additional parking spaces. In December, work will get underway at Thornholme Close, in Beaumont Leys, with £18,000 being invested in a scheme to extend an existing parking resulting in three new spaces. In January, similar schemes are also planned for two areas on Mossgate, in New Parks, creating eight new spaces, and at Gees Lock Close in Aylestone where a new parking area will provide eight new spaces. The programme of work follows requests from ward councillors to address problem parking on pavements or on grassy verges. Leicester assistant city mayor for neighbourhood services, Cllr Kirk Master, said: “Parking is a big issue in many neighbourhoods across Leicester, where the streets simply weren’t designed for the number of cars owned by households nowadays. “The work we are doing will create new parking areas and extend existing ones, to help provide more spaces where they are most needed. “We’ve met with local ward councillors to identify these problem areas and how we can improve things for the people who live there.” The work is part of a rolling annual programme which funded by the council’s housing department and income raised from parking charges. Leicester City Council News

Government strengthening existing laws making it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving under virtually any circumstance Follows public consultation which found that 81 per cent of people supported such a move Highway code will change making it clear that hand-held phone use at traffic lights or in traffic jams is illegal Police will soon be able to more easily prosecute drivers using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel, after the Government strengthens existing laws to further improve road safety. It is already illegal to text or make a phone call (other than in an emergency) using a hand-held device while driving. Next year, laws will go further to ban drivers from using their phone to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists, or play games. This will mean anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence. Drivers will still be able to continue using devices ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it’s secured in a cradle. They must, however, always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Too many deaths and injuries occur whilst mobile phones are being held. “By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st Century while further protecting all road users. “While our roads remain among the safest in the world, we will continue working tirelessly to make them safer, including through our award-winning THINK! campaign, which challenges social norms among high-risk drivers.” This follows a public consultation which found 81 per cent of respondents supported proposals to strengthen the law and make it easier for culprits to be prosecuted. Following the public consultation, the Government will revise The Highway Code to explain the new measures. It will also be more precise about the fact that being stationary in traffic counts as driving, making it clear that hand-held mobile phone use at traffic lights or in motorway jams is illegal except in very limited circumstances. There will be an exemption to the new law for drivers making a contactless payment using their mobile phone while stationary to ensure the law keeps pace with technology. This exemption will cover, for example, places like a drive-through restaurant or a road toll, and will only apply when payment is being made with a card reader. It will not allow motorists to make general online payments while driving. Mary Williams OBE, Chief Executive of Brake – the road safety charity, said: “Driver distraction can be deadly and using a hand-held phone at the wheel is never worth the risk. This important road safety decision by Government, coinciding with Road Safety Week, is very welcomed. "This news is particularly welcomed by families suffering bereavement and catastrophic injury due to drivers being distracted by phones. The theme for Road Safety Week is road safety heroes – we can all be road safety heroes by giving driving our full attention.” The Department for Transport has also today published a study by Ipsos Mori about drivers who use mobile phones while driving. Among other findings, the research reveals younger motorists are more likely to have used a handheld device at the wheel, supporting the focus of the Government’s award-winning THINK! campaign which works to boost road safety by targeting higher-risk, younger motorists and road-users.

Extensive resurfacing work will be taking place on a section of a busy Leicester road from this weekend. A stretch of East Park Road, between St Saviours Road and Park Vale Road, will be closed to traffic in order for the work to be carried out. It will be fully closed to traffic on Saturday, November 20, and Sunday, November 21, although the St Saviours Road junction will remain open on the Saturday. The route will be closed to all traffic overnight on Monday from 6pm until early on Tuesday morning. Works during the week will continue on Monday to Thursday between 9.30am and 4pm, with lane closures and restriction on waiting and loading. The off-peak working is planned to minimise the impact on traffic at peak periods in the morning and early evening. Diversions will be clearly signposted. Several one-way streets in the area will temporarily be made two-way to allow for diverted traffic, and traffic marshals will be on hand. Leicester City Council has written to residents in the area informing them of the extent of the works taking place, which involves removing damaged areas of the carriageway, adjusting or replacing ironworks and then laying a new road surface. It is being carried out by contractor Aggregate Industries and sub-contractor Premier Surfacing. Director of City Highways at Leicester City Council, Martin Fletcher, said: “East Park Road is a very busy arterial route in and out of the city, and in the heart of a residential area, meaning the road surface does suffer a lot of wear and tear. “With winter approaching, the impact of ice, rain and freezing temperatures will damage the surface further, so we need to carry out these repairs now to ensure it remains safe to use. “Given the nature of the work, we have to close the road fully at time for it to be done safely, and have clearly signposted diversions in place, along with traffic marshals, to ensure it goes smoothly with as little disruption as possible.” Full details of all traffic and travel in Leicester are available on Twitter via: @ATCLeicester

In the run up to Christmas the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership is reminding people that buying an e-scooter as a gift will be tempting, especially as you can get them from many popular retailers. However, the law is clear, you can buy one but you can’t ride it on a UK public road, cycle lane or pavement. The only place an e-scooter can be used is on private land. E-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs), so they are treated as motor vehicles and subject to the same legal requirements, such as an MOT, license, tax and insurance. As e-scooters do not have number plates, signalling ability and don’t always have visible rear lights, they can’t be used legally on the roads. Jonathan Clarkson, spokesperson for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership said, “We understand the public’s support for environmentally friendly modes of transport. We want to work with the public to make sure the roads are safe for everyone.” “The UK Government is currently taking part in ‘Future Transport Zone’ trials for e-scooter hire, with a view to making them legal to use on the roads.” “All local authorities can apply to take part, but at the moment, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are not part of the trials.” Section 59 of the Police Reform Act allows police to give road users a warning if they are reported to have used their vehicle in a manner which causes alarm, distress or annoyance. Leicestershire Police also have the powers to seize vehicles - please make sure you keep your e-scooter on private land so this doesn’t happen to you.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences following warrants being executed by an East Leicester beat team on Friday morning (12 November). Officers executed three warrants at properties in the Rowlatts Hill area following information received. Three arrested on suspicion of drugs offences following warrants in East Leicester. A 40-year-old woman, of Leicester, was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs, an 18-year-old man, of Leicester, was arrested on possession of class A drugs and a 17-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs and possession of class B drugs. Items including cash, suspected class A and class B drugs and suspected drugs paraphernalia were also seized. The three people arrested have all since been released under investigation while enquiries continue. Sergeant Ryan Hayes, of East Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area, said: “This proactive day of enforcement was carried out to address issues and concerns raised regarding drug offending in the area. “A full investigation now remains ongoing. “Please continue to report your concerns to us and please continue to speak with us if you have any information. We will take action and we will work with you to help make our communities safer for us all.”

Christmas celebrations make a welcome return to the streets of Leicester this year – but with a new format for the traditional lights' switch-on to help people stay safe. Instead of a stage programme on Humberstone Gate – which, in previous years, drew densely-packed crowds – the city council will provide attractions at five locations across the city centre to encourage people to enjoy the switch-on, wherever they are. From 5pm on Thursday (18 November), people will be able to enjoy food and a festive film in Green Dragon Square, funfair rides on Humberstone Gate, live music and an interactive adventure in Town Hall Square, street entertainers near the Clock Tower Christmas tree, and a spectacular light installation on Orton Square. At 6.30pm, those enjoying the fun at all five locations will be invited to share in the build-up to the big switch-on by joining in with a countdown led by BBC Radio Leicester and broadcast on speakers at each site. Across the city centre, 16,000 colourful lamps will light up Leicester’s squares and shopping streets, signalling the start of the Christmas celebrations. On Gallowtree Gate, new elegant red and white decorations will span the street, while there’s a fresh look for the Town Hall, where the traditional ‘Christmas Greetings’ motif will be joined by some colourful new LED Christmas trees. At the Clock Tower, a 50ft Christmas tree will sparkle with hundreds of pea-lights, while the city’s traditional nativity scene and a festive tableau scene – featuring a new augmented reality experience for youngsters – will have pride of place in Town Hall Square. Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming people to Leicester city centre on Thursday (18 November) for what should be a wonderful evening. “It should be a great opportunity to catch up with friends, enjoy a meal with the family or maybe even make a start on your Christmas shopping!” Free festive films in Green Dragon Square will start at 5pm on Thursday (18 November). Family favourite The Snowman™ will be shown on the Corn Exchange screen at 5pm, followed by The Snowman™ and The Snowdog, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Sweet treats, hot drinks and hot food – including pizzas, hot dogs and vegan options – will be available from stalls in Green Dragon Square. On Humberstone Gate, there’ll be a festive funfair (18 Nov-2 Jan), while a 22m-high ‘Happy Wheel’ will take visitors for a spin in Jubilee Square. Over in Orton Square, BID Leicester has sponsored a spectacular overhead light installation, Rhizome, which is set to captivate visitors from 18 November until 5 January. Costumed characters and street entertainers, including some illuminated penguin puppets, will create pockets of fun throughout the city centre, and there’ll be live music from brass band collectives, carolling choirs and local steel pan players as part of the switch-on night programme. People heading for the city centre from outside the city are encouraged to use Leicester’s Park & Ride services. Two of the services – from Birstall and Enderby – have been specially extended for switch-on night. The last buses back to Birstall and Enderby will leave the city centre at 9pm and 9.05pm respectively on 18 November. The last bus to Meynell’s Gorse will depart at 7pm as normal. A return ticket for up to five people in one car costs just £3. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “After last year’s scaled-down Christmas programme, it’s great to be able to bring back the attractions that help create such a wonderful festive atmosphere in Leicester. “Although things feel more normal this year, COVID hasn’t gone away, so we’ll be keeping an eye on local infection rates as we head into winter, just in case we need to amend the programme to keep people safe. But our intention is to celebrate Christmas in style this year, and give families and friends plenty of opportunities to have fun together in Leicester city centre.” With COVID-19 infection rates still high, the city council is asking people to do a quick test before attending the switch-on event, and to wear a face covering if they're travelling on public transport or whenever they’re in a crowded space. Director of public health Professor Ivan Browne said: "While the risk of transmission at an outdoor event is much lower than in an indoor space, the virus can easily be passed on when people are close together. “That’s why we’re asking people to take a quick lateral flow test before attending our switch-on event, just to make sure they’re not carrying the virus without realising it. “To further reduce the risk of transmission, we’re also asking anyone with any cold or flu-like symptoms to stay at home and not mix with others – even if they’ve had a negative rapid COVID test. “Wearing a face covering whenever you’re in a crowded space – whether that’s indoors or outdoors – is a really good idea, and don’t forget that regular hand-washing is an important part of your COVID-19 defences. “The best thing you can do to protect yourself and others is to make sure that you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19, so please get your jabs, if you haven’t already done so. “It’s especially important for people over 40, or those with health conditions that make them more vulnerable, to get the booster jab as soon as they are eligible. This will make sure they are fully protected throughout the winter period when it is much easier for the virus to spread." Free home testing kits will be available in Green Dragon Square from 3pm on switch-on night (Thursday 18 November) from the yellow council van. Free tests are also available from pharmacies and from the rapid testing centre at Fosse neighbourhood centre. More information about Christmas in Leicester is available at christmasinleicester.co.uk Leicester City Council is grateful for the support of its sponsors this Christmas: Octopus Energy - Watches of Switzerland - CityFibre - Gem

A pioneering service, which supports young victims of violence at the Leicester Royal Infirmary has reached nearly 250 young people since it started in February 2020. Leicestershire’s Violence Reduction Network (VRN) has invested £250,000 into the Violence Intervention Project, or VIP, which supports young people attending hospital with violence-related injuries. The project is delivered by Turning Point - a social and health care services provider. Its specially trained workers are based in A&E and offer support and mentorship to young people who have been admitted with injuries arising from violence including knife-related injuries. This is known as a ‘reachable moment’ when a victim is more likely to accept help whilst they are in a safe space away from the context in which the injury occurred. It provides an opportunity to ensure they stay safe and make positive progress in their lives. The workers can put them in touch with a wide range of organisations and services and be an advocate for them too. In early 2021 a seventeen-year-old young man was admitted to the LRI after being attacked by several men. He was already known to the police as a victim of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE). An initial assessment showed he had previously been arrested for causing criminal damage and was found in possession of a bag of Class ‘A’ drugs and was currently struggling with education and employment. He told the Turning Point workers that he regularly carried weapons and knives as a protective measure because of his situation. Initially the young man was very cautious about the information he gave to his VIP worker, however the worker was able to build his trust which led to him disclosing information that he had not previously disclosed to the police or other agencies. The VIP worker established that he really wanted to get back into education to learn a trade or vehicle mechanics. He also wanted to be involved in extra-curricular sports and improve his peer group as his only friends were associated with the drug trade. In June 2021, through the VIP, he got a place to study music alongside English and Maths. His attendance and attitude to learning was excellent and he is now in full time education. As a result, he was able to widen his peer group, establish a more structured daily routine and through the VIP he was able to go to a sports and boxing gym once a week for six weeks. Since then he has not been involved in any other offending; not had any other violent encounters. He no longer carries weapons and feels a lot safer out in the community. Grace Strong, Strategic Director of the Violence Reduction Network said; “As this case study shows the Violence Intervention Project can make a real difference to young people, supporting them to change their future for the better. The VIP workers are dedicated to really understanding and harnessing the strengths of young people and working closely with them to build a positive future. It not only benefits the young person but all of us as our children, young people and communities are safer as a result.” Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Drummond, from the force’s Violent and Complex Crime Unit, said; “The Violence Intervention Programme is a great example of why it is so important we work in partnership to engage with victims. Making sure the right people talk to victims at the right time can make the difference between that person reoffending or finding the help and support they need to make positive steps to a brighter future.” Caroline Gadsby the Partnerships Manager for Turning Point said; “Turning Point have been working in the hospital as part of the Violence Intervention Project over the last 18 months and we have seen the difference it can make to the young people we work with. “Whilst we are a reasonably new project we have continued to reach out to young people during Covid and we have learnt a lot along the way that has helped us shape the service. Going forward we will be able to build on what we know and use that knowledge to further improve the support we can offer in ‘the reachable moment’. The work that we do with support from the Violence Reduction Network is important and makes such a difference to young people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.” Rupert Matthews, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s Police and Crime Commissioner, who funds the VRN, said: “Violence, and knife crime in particular, must be addressed from all corners. This project shows the added value that Violence Reduction Unit brings to this battle. Enforcement alone will not eradicate violence, we must change attitudes. It is not ‘normal’ to carry a knife. It is not ‘safer’ to carry a knife – in fact that increases the risk of serious harm. “As this example illustrates, mindsets can be changed, and we must invest in that to make Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland safer for future generations.” If you are looking for help and support, please visit Leicestershire Police’s website. If you are a concerned family member or friend there is also information on the website to help you. Why not start the conversation today using our a 10 step guide? https://www.leics.police.uk/livesnotknives This week Leicestershire Police is joining police forces up and down the country to support ‘Operation Sceptre’ – a week-long national campaign aimed at tackling knife crime. Taking place between Monday 15 November and Sunday 21 November 2021, Operation Sceptre will see the police service across the UK highlighting the risks that carrying a bladed weapon can bring, as well as targeting offenders who use and carry knives in the area. Follow the campaign on social media via the #OpSceptre hashtag.