Serious violence affects communities across West Yorkshire. Knife crime, organised gangs and violence against women and girls, all cause real harm to individuals, families and neighbourhoods.
West Yorkshire's Serious Violence Strategy sets out a clear plan to prevent and reduce that harm. It brings together the police, local councils, community organisations and other partners to tackle the root causes of violence, not just respond to it after the fact.
The strategy is built on what residents told us matters most. More than 5,000 people took part in our consultation, sharing their experiences and what they want to see change. Their voices shaped every part of this strategy.
Over half of the people we spoke to in our consultation said they were worried about knife crime. A big concern was that young people may carry knives to protect themselves. We will work with organisations across West Yorkshire to educate people about the dangers of carrying knives - but we will also focus on early intervention. This means offering opportunities and safe spaces for young people to divert them away from knives and becoming part of the criminal justice system.
Watch our video which shares the personal experience of Mechelle Lewis, whose nephew Alfie was fatally stabbed in 2023. She speaks about her family’s loss and why change is needed to prevent knife crime.
Serious organised crime and gangs remain a key concern, particularly linked to drugs and the exploitation of children and young people. We will work with partners to tackle those causing harm and protect those most at risk. This includes early intervention and better information sharing to stop harm from escalating.
In the video, West Yorkshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Tom Levitt explains the Clear, Hold, Build approach and how policing and partners work together to tackle serious and organised crime.
We heard that people are worried about domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and sexual violence. Many said reporting is difficult and that feeling unsafe in town and city centres, especially at night, affects their daily lives. Through our Women’s Safety Unit, we will work with the police and partners to improve victim support, investigations and reporting. We will also work with Pol Ed, schools and partners to strengthen education and prevention, and take action to improve safety in public spaces and transport.
The video includes Angela Everson, CEO of WomenCentre, setting out the challenges victims face and what needs to change to improve safety and support for women and girls.
Across all our priorities, there were concerns about rising serious violence, particularly affecting boys and young men in vulnerable communities.
They highlighted links to gangs, exploitation and wider challenges such as poverty, trauma and exclusion.
Education will be central to our approach, with a strong focus on early intervention and supporting boys’ mental health and wellbeing.
Feedback highlighted the need for clearer education on the risks of knife carrying for children, young people and parents.
It also showed a strong need for earlier support, including safe spaces and positive activities for young people.
We will work with partners to make reporting violence against women and girls easier and safer, so help can be accessed sooner.
Many shared that concerns about serious violence are shaped by what is seen online, with social media playing a big role.
We will work with partners to strengthen online safeguarding and early support, helping prevent children and young people from being targeted for exploitation and organised crime.
Equity, diversion and inclusion run through everything we do.
Poverty, violence, neglect and exploitation can build up and lead to serious harm if not addressed early.
We will work with partners to provide targeted support for vulnerable groups, including Looked After Children, and improve visible, trusted policing so people feel treated fairly and supported across all communities.
It is vital that communities are involved in preventing violence and supporting those most at risk. The People’s Fund helps deliver this strategy by funding local projects that provide early help, positive activities and support close to home. These community groups build trust, reach people early and play a key role in making neighbourhoods safer.
