The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit is a Police Scotland initiative established in January 2005 (by Strathclyde Police) which uses a public health approach to target all forms of violent behaviour including street/gang violence, domestic abuse, school bullying and workplace bullying.
In April 2006, the Scottish Government extended the SVRU’s remit nationwide (Scotland) thus creating a national centre of expertise on violent crime.
In June 2019, following the success of the Scottish VRU and implementation of a new London unit headed by Lib Peck (former leader of Lambeth council), the Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced that he was giving £35m to police and crime commissioners in 18 local areas to set up their own local violence reduction units.
Police operational activity, diversion projects, and help with careers, education, and anger management are all used in an attempt to end gang violence.
[1] Stop and search is a controversial power which gives police the authority to stop, question and search a person they suspect may be committing any of a variety of offences which often comes under criticism for giving police officers the power to target certain groups (for example, those from Black or Minority Ethnic communities).