Tackling violence and exploitation

What serious violence is and who we are working to support

There is a huge cost to individuals, families and communities through loss of life, and the trauma caused through both the physical and psychological injuries suffered.

That is why tackling serious violence is a Government and local priority. Tackling serious violence is not a law enforcement issue alone and it requires a multiple strand approach involving a range of partners across different sectors’

It outlines some of the trends in behaviour seen in those carrying out serious violence, such as:

• drug trafficking and drug misuse
• weapons carrying
• group or gang offending.

In Barnet we take a public health and contextual approach on how to resolve local violence, and have a range of polices and protocols to ensure that we have an effective multiagency response to supporting and safeguarding individuals and their families. 

We employ a range of community diversionary activities and work to improve local capacity of Restorative Approaches/Justice, Improving access of support for Victims of both reported and unreported crime, and improving community capacity to respond to increase tensions and to support collective healing when incidents of violence do occur. 

Under the new Serious Violence Duty, we are currently developing our strategic assessment to understand what multi agency approaches and activities we need to tackle and reduce incidents of violence that occur in Barnet.

We are currently developing our new 2023 to 2027 Tackling Violence and Exploitation Strategy, and have a range of community and stakeholders engagement and consultation events to support the coproduction of our local approach.

To be involved please contact Nimco.Mohamed@Barnet.gov.uk or Sonal.Patel@Barnet.gov.uk  

Further details on these projects:

Community Capacity Coordinator project

The Community Capacity Co-ordinator project is an exciting and challenging role within Family Services looking at a public health approach to reducing violence in Barnet. The project’s aim is to improve local resilience in communities and co-produce plans with them to support the diversion of young people and adults from involvement in incidents of serious violence. 

The aim of this is to:

• hold an overview of incidents of violence in the community, and in partnership with key grassroots organisations, schools, faith groups, marginalised and isolated groups, and local businesses
• partner with key grassroots organisations, schools, faith groups, marginalised and isolated groups, and local businesses co-produce plans that will support reducing tensions, addressing community needs
• develop community plans that support diversion of young people and adults from violence
• promote community healing

The project also sees the introduction of Community Conferences in partnership with Your Family Matters, co-producing support plans to reduce tensions, increase community cohesion, respond to collective trauma. Allowing the development of key leads who will be able to eventually lead in coordinating and facilitating their own community conferences. 

The work focuses on empowering communities to support with serious incident response whilst promoting community engagement and co-collaboration for positive change.

If you have any further questions about the project, please email us on: CEAM@Barnet.gov.uk.

Barnet Victim Care Hub

The Barnet Victim Care Hub has been set-up for victims of reported and unreported crime, providing them with information on their rights and services available to them based on their individual needs following an incident.

The Hub can provide information and local signposting options to those who may have been directly or indirectly impacted by crime. 

How the Victim Care Hub can help and support you:

• explore support services that meet your needs and provide information on how to contact the services and access support. 
• provides information on local organisations and support services. 
• can give information on your rights as a victim through the Victims Code of Practice 
• gives information on surrounding the standards of care for witnesses in the criminal justice system – the Witness Charter 
• where possible and with your consent, refer you onto support services. 
• answer questions you may have on local support services and the criminal justice system

If you have any further questions about the hub or how to access support, please contact us via email: Barnetvictimcarehub@barnet.gov.uk.

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is a voluntary process that enables communication to take place between those affected by crime, helping them move forwards in their recovery and rehabilitation. It empowers victims by giving them a voice and a platform to explain the impact of the crime.  It also holds offenders to account, since it requires them to accept responsibility for their actions, take steps to repair the harm and ultimately, change their behaviour.

The Restorative Justice process involves supported communication between parties and can be conducted indirectly, for example in letters or pre-recorded video, or directly, in a face-to-face conference or meeting. Trained facilitators ensure the process is conduced safely, under mutually agreed conditions.

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime sets out the minimum standard that victims of crime should receive from the criminal justice service and The Metropolitan Police Service have a duty to inform victims of crime about Restorative Justice and how to access services after experiencing a crime.  

While many people report positive outcomes following a Restorative Justice intervention, it may not be suitable for everyone, and all cases are subject to a detailed risk assessment prior to any intervention taking place.

If you are a Barnet resident and have been the victim of a crime, you can contact the Barnet Victim Care Hub for advice and support, including more information about Restorative Justice, you do not have to have reported the crime to access support: BarnetVictimCareHub@Barnet.gov.uk 

The Barnet Victim Care Hub, in partnership with The Metropolitan Police, are recruiting volunteers to support the provision of Restorative Justice for residents. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact: annie.henken@barnet.gov.uk

Find out more about Restorative Justice

Barnet’s Detached Outreach project

This exciting new project will see experienced Detached Outreach Workers engage and offer support to children and young people up to the age of 25 years who are ‘hard to reach’, vulnerable or at risk in targeted areas.

The aim is to identify risk factors relating to serious violence at an earlier stage to prevent and ensure appropriate and targeted responses via local interventions and provisions. 

Visible youth workers will be in locations at peak times during the evenings including the weekends with the aim to encourage children and young people to access positive diversionary activities, and to feedback the lived experiences and general needs of young people to the council, to help shape future services.

Through this engagement, young people will be offered information and guidance in a range of subjects including employment skills, drugs and alcohol awareness, sexual health, healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing, and mental health. 

If you have any questions about the project or would like to share any concerns in relation to violent incidents, child exploitation and locations of concern, contact us via email: CEAM@Barnet.gov.uk.

Community safety

Community safety involves and affects both children and adults.

We support and share safeguarding concerns with The Community Safety Team when they are dealing with issues such as anti-social behaviour or neighbourhood disputes.

Have a look at our community safety page for more information.