The Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN) recently carried out a county-wide survey to understand how serious violence is affecting people across Lancashire and how safe they feel in their local communities.
The survey, which was shaped with the help of the Youth Independent Advisory Group, attracted over 3,000 responses – giving us a valuable insight into the issues that matter most to people.
Here’s what we found:
- Nearly a third (32%) of people said they’ve been affected by violence in the last year.
- 21% of respondents had seen someone carrying a knife in public.
- Just over half (54%) said they feel safe most of the time in their area.
- The top thing that would make people feel safer was ‘more police officers on the streets’.
- Drugs were reported as the biggest concern, while the threat of sexual assault or harassment was seen as the least concerning for respondents.
So, what happens next? The LVRN will use this feedback to shape our future work, focusing on areas that need the most attention. Plans include funding hotspot policing in targeted areas, running educational workshops in schools and communities, and working with people with lived experience to help educate others on the impact of violence.
Susannah Clarke, LVRN Director, said: “We want to say a big thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and feelings with us. We had responses from a wide range of ages and backgrounds, which has given us a broad and insightful picture of how violence is affecting different communities across Lancashire. The input from the Youth Independent Advisory Group also helped us make sure we were asking the right questions. This feedback gives us a clear focus, and we are committed to working with our partners to make a real difference.”
Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on how this work is progressing.
