VRUs help to cut hospitalisations from knife crime – but a better whole-system approach could bring greater success

8th September 2025Sarah Gibbons, Contributing Editor, Policing Insight

The latest Home Office evaluation of the work of violence reduction units (VRUs) across England and Wales highlights “encouraging” reductions in homicides and hospital admissions due to violence and knife crime – particularly among those aged 24 and under – but strengthening partnerships and improving data sharing could lead to better results for the VRU whole-system approach, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

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VRUs help to cut hospitalisations from knife crime – but a better whole-system approach could bring greater success

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