Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit

Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit

Addressing the underlying causes of violence and working
together with communities to prevent it.

Play Video about Kate Green smiling

Working to reduce violence in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is a team of subject leads and experts from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Greater Manchester National Probation Service, Public Health, NHS, Education, Community Voluntary Sector, Victim’s Voice, Youth Justice and Local Authorities, addressing the underlying causes of violence and working together with communities to prevent it.

Under the direct governance and oversight of the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Combined Authority plays host to the VRU.

The Greater Than Violence Strategy

A group of young people standing in front of a graffiti wall

The Greater than Violence strategy commits to working together with individuals and communities to understand their strengths, challenges, and ideas to tackle violence.

Led by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, the Greater than Violence Strategy will work to improve lives by preventing violence, supporting victims, families and communities affected, and providing positive opportunities to those at risk of becoming victims, witnesses, or perpetrators, including education programmes, community sports, targeted mentoring, opportunities to develop new skills and therapeutic support.

The strategy is founded on two pillars: preventing violence from happening and responding swiftly and appropriately when it occurs.

Community-led approach

The community-led approach to violence reduction, means the VRU works closely with communities to understand the strengths, challenges, and needs of the community and determine how local investments will be made.

Several boroughs across the city-region have received funding from the VRU as part of its investment in community-led programmes, outlined in Greater Manchester’s Serious Violence Action Plan.

Public health approach

“The key objective is to ensure we take a public health approach, working collaboratively and in partnership where we come together and our policies are strongly aligned. We’ll be looking at our trends, information and evidence to find solutions collaboratively with our partners” – Helen Lowey.

Take a look at our latest initatives

Hope Hack

Young people from across Greater Manchester have shared their views, thoughts, and ideas on how to make the city region a safer and fairer place for all.

Navigator Project

The Greater Manchester Navigator Project is a youth-focused, violence reduction project based in four Greater Manchester hospitals.

The Social Switch Project

The Social Switch Project is switching the narrative on how social media’s relationship to youth violence is understood, tackled and solved.

Speaking Out Could Save a Life

Greater Manchester comes together to stop knife crime and serious violence.

Latest News
All Blog Press Release Uncategorised
Empowering Year 9 pupils in Stockport
With the help of PIE, a successful drop-down day for Year 9 pupils was arranged at Stockport Academy to provide students with the knowledge and skills to foster positive relationships, develop emotional resilience, and understand the impact of their actions on themselves and those around them. Hear from the organisations involved about their experiences on […]
18 March 2025
Community Spotlight: Reece’s story – Another Chance
“This is the first time I’ve had support that actually helps and doesn’t judge me.” We provide 1:1 mentoring support to young people aged 14-25 involved in group-based serious violence. Our dedicated team support young people to reach their full potential, building on their strengths, and rediscovering their passions and interests. One of our Programme […]
13 February 2025
Community Spotlight: Members of New Bury Youth Voice get to shadow the work of Deputy…
Over November, four young people from New Bury Youth Voice were invited to spend the day with Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green. They were split into pairs for a day each. The first day started with the young people attending Greater Manchester’s Safe Drive Stay Alive event in […]
10 January 2025

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