Tackling Violence Action Plan Implementation Guidance 2008

The Home Office has released guidance to assist local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to deliver action plans to reduce violent crime. The Tackling Violence Action Plan Implementation Guidance focuses on a number of key violent crime types in addition to alcohol-related violence, including gun crime and gang-related violence, knife crime, domestic violence, youth crime and sexual violence.

The document provides guidelines on the strategic framework for implementing local plans to reduce violence and links to a range of key documents and supporting strategies. The report states for alcohol-related violence and PSA 23:

It is recognised that grievous bodily harm (GBH), both with and without intent, can be used as a proxy for the prevalence of alcohol related violent crime because success in tackling all types of alcohol-related violence should be manifested through improvements in the number of GBH offences. Progress on the alcohol-related violent crime outcomes sought both through PSA 25 as well as PSA 23 will be measured using this indicator.

Further guidance on tackling alcohol related violence can be found in the Home Office and Dept of Health Alcohol Strategy Local Implementation Toolkit.

The report also links to the Home office practical guide for dealing with alcohol related problems, which provides an overview of the main measures and legislation to address issues relating to licensed premises, street drinking and individuals.

We have expressed concern about reliance on proxy measures recently, and would prefer to see alcohol flagged better in crime records.