Author and Job Role: Sarah Haywood, Community Safety, Serious Violence and Partnership Lead
Protective Marking: OFFICIAL
Executive Summary:
The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets out a long-term mission to reduce serious harm and increase confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system. Integral to the safer streets mission is our ambition to halve knife crime and halve Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) within a decade.
The Serious Violence Reduction Programme Grant funding for the 2026/27 has been issued to support the local Serious Violence Reduction Partnership – bringing together police, justice, fire, local government, health and education professionals, and other key partners to tackle serious violence and its causes.
The funding awarded for 2026/25 totalled £546,830.46. The initial delivery plan for 2026/27 was presented and agreed by the Surrey Serious Violence Reduction Partnership (SSVRP) and the Home Office, meeting the requirements and criteria of the grant.
Applications for the Grant
In 2026/27, the SSVRP are to adopt the primary focus – the prevention of public-space knife crime. However, partnerships should also continue to respond to the specific challenges identified through their Strategic Needs Assessment. The funding can also be used to support the delivery of the Duty, therefore some staffing costs are permitted.
The projects given support in Quarter 1 are –
| Project | Lead agency | Grant |
| Serious Violence Lead | Surrey Police | £66,302.00 |
| Senior Analyst (2025/26 costs) | Surrey County Council | £73,774.00 |
| Knife Crime Comms Campaign | Surrey Police | £15,000.00 |
| Engage Workers | Surrey County Council | £85,000.00 |
| Op Shield Support | Circles SE | £20,000.00 |
| Changing Directions | Brentford FC Community | £45,000.00 |
Recommendation
The PCC supports the recommended allocation of the Serious Violence Duty labour fund in Surrey and awards the following;
- £66,302.00 to the Local Policing Body for the Serious Violence Lead for 2026/27
- £73,774.00 to Surrey County Council for analytical support for 2026/27
- £15,000.00 to Surrey Police for the development of a knife crime public campaign
- £85,000.00 to Surrey County Council for the Engage Workers
- £20,000.00 to Circles SE for Op Shield.
- £45,000.00 to Brentford FC Community Sports Trust for the Changing Directions Project
Police and Crime Commissioner Approval
I approve the recommendation(s):
Signature: PCC Lisa Townsend (wet signed copy held in Office)
Date: 30th June 2026
All decisions must be added to the decision register.
Areas of consideration
Consultation
The recommendations in this report have been agreed by the Serious Violence Reduction Partnership, Community Safety Partnerships and the local Serious Violence Operational Group which consists of all the specified and relevant authorities as named in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The delivery plan for the partnership has been agreed by the Home Office inline with their funding requirements.
Financial implications
Funded using allocation from the Serious Violence Programme Grant
Legal
The Local Policing Body have followed the legal and financial requirements as set out in the Serious Violence Programme Grant from the Home Office.
Risks
The Serious Violence Duty Executive and Delivery Group has a risk register which keeps track of the risks and challenges associated with delivering the duty and the projects connected to the funding.
Equality and diversity
Each deliverable has considered the equality and diversity implications. An equality impact assessment will be completed for the Serious Violence Reduction partnership by the end of the financial year.
Risks to human rights
No risks