The government has announced a package of support for the communities of Liverpool and Knowsley in the wake of tragic shootings across the region.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said a £150,000 would be directed to the communities of Liverpool and Knowsley in the wake of the tragic shootings of the past week. The cash will provide specialist trauma informed support in nearby schools, as well as mental health provisions for those closely affected.
Following the horrific killings of Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale and Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Merseyside within a week of each other, the Home Secretary is also announcing £350,000 to expand the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ pilot to other areas in Merseyside affected by Serious and Organised Crime.
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The pilot sees both a proactive policing response and multi-agency working to support communities worst affected by Organised Crime Groups to make them more resilient and less susceptible to their activities.
Priti Patel said: “The whole country has been appalled at the spate of violence in Liverpool over the past couple of weeks, which has tragically left three people dead, including nine-year-old Olivia.
“The impact on the wider community is immense, which is why we are providing funding for specialist trauma and mental health support for those who need it, as well as expanding the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ pilot to disrupt Merseyside’s corrosive and deadly Organised Crime Groups.
She added: “We will stop at nothing to drive down serious violence and ensure that fewer families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one in this way.
Established in the Birkenhead area in January 2022, the Clear, Hold, Build pilot has aimed to make sustainable reductions in firearms and knife crime offences, whilst hoping to improve community confidence and delivering preventative programmes to over 2,000 young people in the area.
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