What works: What is the evidence telling us?
The following programmes mostly look at the impact on violent crime more generally but can be applied in the instance of knife crime offences.
• Focused Deterrence: Strong evidence this has a high impact on violent crime - estimated to reduce violent crime by 33% (YEF Toolkit).
• Targeted Prevention Programmes: Varying evidence and impact on violent crime. These are also used as part of diversion, not just prevention. Important to note that this is based on US-based evidence and one study from Glasgow.
• Social Skills Training: Strong evidence this has a high impact on violent crime - estimated to reduce violent crime by 32%.
• Mentoring: Moderate evidence this has a moderate impact on violent crime - estimated to reduce violent crime by 21%.
• Sports Programmes: Limited evidence this has a high impact on violent crime. These programmes have been found to reduce aggression, promote mental health and respond to other behavioural difficulties (YEF Toolkit).
• A&E Navigator Programmes: Very limited evidence this could have a high impact on violent crime, Estimate is based on two US studies only. The YEF has funded a multi-site trial of this intervention, which they intend to evaluate (YEF Toolkit).
• Violence Reduction Units (VRUs): Evaluations suggest a reduction in police recorded violence without injury offences. Whilst not statistically significant, there were encouraging indications of reductions in homicides and hospital admissions resulting from any violent injury (for example, not just sharp object) (Home Office 2023).
• Pre-Court Diversion: Strong evidence this has a moderate impact on violent crime - estimated to reduce re-offending by 13% and in the instance of another offence, this is likely to be less serious (YEF Toolkit).
• Hot Spot Policing: Moderate evidence this has a moderate impact on violent crime - estimated to reduce violent crime by 14% and overall offending by 17%. The nature of delivery is important - it is found to be most effective when taking a problem-oriented policing approach compared to traditional policing (YEF Toolkit)
• A Home Office (2024) Analysis of Hot Spot Policing (covering children and adults) found reduced crime on patrol days compared with non-patrol days, although at the force level few forces demonstrated a significantly significant reduction in crime.
• Tailored Support Opportunities (Housing, Education, Employment): Strong evidence this has a high impact on reducing weapon carrying (Browne et al. 2021).
