Plans to create a new body which will tackle violence in Croydon by treating the causes of crime through a public health approach have been approved.

The Council's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) will approach violence like any other health issue that causes disease or physical harm, combatting it by treating its root causes.

In practice this means intervening at critical moments in a young person's life, providing support and guidance to prevent them being drawn into a lifestyle associated with violence.

The plans were given the go ahead at Monday’s cabinet meeting, where they were unanimously voted through.

Council Leader Tony Newman said: “Evidence from Glasgow shows that this approach really can work.

“The vast majority of senior police officers tell me that you can’t arrest your way out of knife crime – you need a change of culture.

“We want to change services, join them up and drive a long-term prevention strategy.

“In the short term, the problem will only improve if the national government stop cutting funding to the Met police.”

Over a 10-year period from 2008-09 to 2017-18, the number of homicide cases in Scotland fell by 39% (38 cases) from 97 to 59. Glasgow City accounted for over one third (34%) of this decrease.

The public health approach advocates treating crime as a public health issue, focusing on prevention rather than cure.

Croydon’s VRU will treat each serious violent crime personally, taking the view that each offence stems from a wide range of issues, from inequality and poverty, to the vulnerability of young people and families with complex needs.

Initially, the VRU will include the FJC anti-domestic abuse service, CCTV, the antisocial behaviour team and the Prevent team, which works to safeguard residents from the risk of radicalisation.

Moving forward these council teams will work with other partners across the health system, the criminal justice system and voluntary sector, to tackle the root causes of serious violence

Croydon’s plans will build on its recent successes in crime reduction. In the last 12 months it has been one of the only boroughs in London to see decrease in knife crime.