Crime and Violence

Lead person:	Lead PHO: NWPHO
Manager of Behavioural Epidemiology
Tel: 0151 231 8723

Violence and crime have major impacts on health and well-being, affecting victims, witnesses, their families and wider communities. The British Crime Survey estimates that over two million incidents of violence are committed in England and Wales each year. This figure excludes child victims of violence, including those suffering through child maltreatment, bullying and youth violence. Victims of violence can suffer long-lasting physical and psychological harm. Those exposed to violence in childhood are at increased risk of experiencing further violence and developing a wide range of health-damaging behaviours (e.g. substance use, risky sexual activity) and health conditions (e.g. cancers, heart disease) in later life.

Violence is strongly related to deprivation, with hospital admissions for assault (in both adults and children) being six times higher in the most deprived quintile of residence than the least deprived. Regionally, rates are highest in the North East and the North West. The costs of violence have been estimated at over £24billion each year, with over £2billion of this burden falling on health services.

Preventing violence is a major government priority. A cross-departmental action plan Saving Lives. Reducing Harm. Protecting the Public. sets out the measures being taken to tackle violence: reducing the harm it causes, delivering better outcomes for victims and addressing the root causes of violence to prevent it from occurring in the first place. The NWPHO also functions as part of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Violence Prevention at Liverpool John Moores University.

For more information about this topic, please look at the topic on the NWPHO web site.

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