Kent & Medway Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)

Welcome to Karen Sandland, our new VRU Co-ordinator! Drawing on her background in community policing and experience with youth programmes, Karen is excited to join us in making a positive difference for young people. Find out more on our website: buff.ly/nJm89Lk

A new phone under the tree? New trainers on Christmas Day? While the festive season is a time for giving, it's important to stay alert. If a child or young person is receiving unexplained gifts - especially outside of family celebrations - taking secretive phone calls, or behaving differently, these could be warning signs of grooming or exploitation. Something doesn't feel right about a young person you know? Trust your instincts and take action. Visit our website for more information: buff.ly/X7AESUQ

#AntiBullyingWeek starts today. Pol-Ed has assemblies & lessons to help pupils explore where unkind behaviour begins & how to challenge it, such as: Y3 - What do we mean by consent in friendships? Y7 - Is this banter or bullying? Start the week with respect! Be a #PowerforGood.

“Knife in the kitchen, not on the street.” Since 2022, CSGT Mike Beaton has reached 3,000+ young people via @CommandoChef - using food to spark conversations about knife crime & future choices. 🔗See further: college.police.uk/support-forces… @KentVRU @RoyalMarines

#VAWG Week and National Spiking Intensification Week are taking place this week. Pol-Ed has a wide range of resources to support schools - including a dedicated VAWG Assembly for Secondary schools. Explore our VAWG lesson groupings at pol-ed.co.uk. #KeepingChildrenSafe

Haven't visited pol-ed.co.uk in a while? Here's what we've added to our #PSHE lesson library in recent months. Pol-Ed is free to use to all schools in registered areas. Find out more at pol-ed.co.uk. #APositiveForceInEducation

📣 Mark your calendars! 3rd October 10:00-11:30 Our team, along with the KCC Social Connections team, will be welcoming the @mizenfoundation to Dover. Join us for an inspiring presentation by Barry and Margaret Mizen, the founders. The Mizen Foundation was established following the heart breaking loss of their son, Jimmy, in 2008. For full details, see the attached flyer. @Kent_cc #SaferTogether

The Police Property Act Fund is open for bidding until the 17th October. If you are a Registered Charity, Social Enterprise, Constituted Group or Community Interest Companies (CIC) with a clear connection to Kent, you are welcome to apply. For full details, visit: kent-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/pol…

📢 Catch 22 Annual Report 2024–25: Kent Gangs & County Lines Catch22 has supported 200 young people in the last year, helping them break free from the grip of gangs and county lines exploitation. ✅ 200 young people supported ✅ 275 reports of positive life changes ✅ 308 reports of reduction in crime and/or ASB ✅ 79% of those supported reported improvements of wellbeing We are now funding Catch 22 and look forward to seeing them continue to bring positive change to the lives of young people. If you or someone you know is at risk of being exploited by gangs visit the link below to find victim resources from Catch 22: buff.ly/x9vIYKC... Catch22 #Catch22 #CountyLines #YouthSupport #YouthWork #Kent #Exploitation #CutCrime #SupportVictims #BuildTrust

Ronan Kanda, 16, was stabbed to death in a case of mistaken identity in 2022. Since her sons death Ronan's mother, Pooja Kanda, has been campaigning to change the law to make it both harder to buy and sell knives. Her efforts have led to new and improved legislation aimed to tackle the issue. On 1st August Ronan's law became effective which: - Prohibits the manufacture, sale, possession and importation of ninja swords - Improves reporting - retailers are required to report suspicious or bulk purchases to the police - Tightens age verification - tougher age verification processes for buying knifes online are now in place - Increases penalties - The penalty for selling knives to anyone under age has risen from six months to up to two years in prison We hope that these changes are a step forward in making our communities and young people safer! #RonanKanda #Ronanslaw #KnifeCriime #JusticeForRonan #SaferStreets

Over the Summer, we released 38 new Secondary lessons to our #PSHE library. Our new Year 11 lesson, What is my relationship with AI?, explains what AI is, the potential benefits of it as well as outlining the risks. Available to all registered schools at pol-ed.co.uk

For all those users in Kent and Medway, do you have any thoughts on a PSHE topic you'd want more support with? Drop your thoughts to Pol-Ed #SaferTogether

👀 Spotted something that doesn't look right? You have the power to #ClockItCheckItChangeIt. Being an active bystander means speaking up safely when you can. Together we can make Kent and Medway safer: buff.ly/4LhSQLh #SaferTogether

Summer holidays = more time, more opportunities! 🌞 We're working with @sportsconnectUK and partners across Kent & Medway to provide positive activities for young people. Because everyone deserves to choose their path. #SaferTogether

It was a pleasure to have @CommandoChef visiting young people in Kent this week🥳. Commando Chef is not only helping young people with his inputs, he is also helping us spread the message that a rounded-end knife is perfectly fine to use and is safer than a pointed-end traditional one! We look forward to Mike and his team coming back later in the year 🤞

Fantastic news! If you work in education, from Primary to College in Kent or Medway, contact us to find out more about Pol-Ed and how it can benefit the young people you educate.

💬 Why Sports Connect Matters Every quote tells a story — and this one captures exactly why we do what we do. Check out what we are offering in your area by heading to sportsconnect.uk/community-even…

Our community sessions with the @KentVRU have been in full swing this spring! From sport-based engagement to building positive connections, it’s been incredible to support young people across Kent🙌 Find out more about our community sessions: shorturl.at/PmNCc

📢We have funded Pol-Ed for all primary, secondary and colleges across Kent and Medway. Pol-Ed supports schools in delivering expertly planned lessons designed to develop a deep awareness of risks, citizenship and the law. Visit our website to find out more or sign up directly by visiting the Pol-Ed site.