Who can help me?
If you are worried about a child or young person being pressured into carrying a knife or are in a situation that you feel uncomfortable with, you can get advice from independent agencies on how to approach difficult conversations.
When you contact them you can stay anonymous, which means you don’t have to give your name or any information that will identify you. They can give you confidential help and advice:
Victim Care and Advice Service
Tel: 0303 040 1099
Email: [email protected]
Web: Victim Care and Advice Service
The Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) provides free, independent and confidential support to victims of crime and their families.
VCAS runs services in Cleveland, County Durham and Darlington. Stockton-based charity Safer Communities runs VCAS on behalf of the Police and Crime Commissioners for Cleveland and Durham.
Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence
Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV) is Cleveland's first dedicated partnership tasked with reducing levels of serious violence through a joined up, multiagency approach.
The Christopher Cave Foundation
Founded in 2005 by Theresa Cave, The Chris Cave Foundation supports and educates families and local communities affected by violent crimes, whilst providing an outlet for young people influenced.
Early Intervention Team
Parents or carers who have concerns that their children may be at risk of carrying a knife can contact Police and ask for a referral to the Early Intervention Team.
57 young people believed to be a risk of becoming involved in knife crime, or carrying a knife, were referred to Cleveland Police’s Early Intervention Team in 2022, and none of those young people went on to reoffend or participate in any offence related to a bladed article.
Last year, the team also contributed to cutting youth reoffending rates from an already impressive 19% in 2021, to just 8.25% in 2022, compared with the national average of 34.2%.
The Early Intervention Team completed 1,137 interventions in 2022, and improved partnership working with schools and agencies led to increased external referrals from 25% to 43%. This is all possible by developing and maintaining great understanding relationships with partner organisations.
Call 101 and ask to speak to the Early Intervention Team.
