More must be done to tackle violent crime
22nd April 2015
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird QC says “more must be done by the government to tackle serious violent crime”.
Figures released today by Cardiff University show an estimated 211,514 people attended Emergency Departments (EDs), Minor Injury Units (MIUs) and Walk-in Centres in England and Wales for treatment following violence in 2014.
Commissioner Baird thinks that the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol could help reduce violent crime.
The figures show that the issue of alcohol-related violence continues to be a concern, with violence-related Emergency Department attendance consistently at its highest levels on weekends. In 2014 over 200,000 people across England and Wales attend Emergency Departments with injuries caused by violence.
PCC Baird said: “These figures are to be welcomed, but despite their promises this government could have done so much more to tackle one of the major causes of the problem.
“Over 200,000 people visited A&E for injuries caused by violence. A majority of these were linked to alcohol.
“The three North East Police & Crime Commissioners have requested the government to tackle this problem on a number of occasions by urging them to introduce a minimum price for alcohol. Despite promises from government, our request fell on deaf years.
“The pressures on the police and the NHS means that the government can no longer ignore the problem.
“It’s needs action and as Police & Crime Commissioner for Northumbria I will continue to urge Parliament to address this issue – if we do, we will reduce visits to A&E and it will stop police officers being tied up dealing with fights caused by intoxication, and free police officers time to police communities and address other policing matters”.
The findings confirmed the demographic that those most at risk of serious violence-related injury continue to be males aged 18-30.
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