We are seeing evidence that shows early intervention is vital in violence preventing. Supporting children, young people and families before violence escalates delivers better outcomes for communities. It also reduces long-term harm and lowers costs for public services.
From school exclusions and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to exploitation, trauma and deprivation, the root causes of violence are complex. But one message is becoming clear internationally: prevention works.
The Growing Challenge
UK: Rising Concern Around Youth Violence
Knife crime and serious youth violence continue to place pressure on communities across England and Wales. Research from the Youth Endowment Fund highlights that knife crime remains the leading cause of homicide among teenagers, with young people often carrying weapons due to fear, exploitation, trauma or lack of support.
The UK Government’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) programme has expanded significantly in recent years, using a “whole systems” public health approach focused on prevention and multi-agency collaboration.
Recent evaluations are showing encouraging results: nearly 90% of teenagers arrested for violent offences in London did not reoffend within 12 months after receiving intervention from youth workers. Moreover, around three-quarters of young people treated in hospital following violent incidents reduced their risk of further harm after intervention support.
In Scotland, the pioneering Glasgow Violence Reduction Unit helped transform one of Europe’s most violent cities by treating violence as a preventable public health issue rather than solely a criminal justice problem.
The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Both UK and US research strongly link violence to childhood trauma and instability.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include:
- Abuse or neglect
- Domestic violence
- Parental substance misuse
- Mental ill-health in the household
- Family breakdown
- Exposure to crime or violence
Studies show that ACEs are preventable but significantly increase the likelihood of later violence, poor mental health, substance misuse and chronic health conditions. In the United States:
- Around 64% of adults surveyed reported experiencing at least one ACE.
- Approximately 1 in 6 adults experienced four or more ACEs.
This matters because repeated trauma in childhood can directly affect emotional regulation, trust, resilience, education outcomes and long-term social development.
United States: Community Violence Prevention in Action
In the United States, violence prevention strategies increasingly focus on community-led intervention and trauma-informed support.
One of the best-known models is Cure Violence, which treats violence similarly to infectious disease transmission by interrupting conflicts before retaliation occurs. A recent evaluation in New York City found the programme was associated with a 14% reduction in shootings between 2012 and 2023.
The CDC continues to advocate for prevention approaches centred around:
- Strengthening family support
- School engagement
- Mentoring
- Mental health access
- Youth programmes
- Safe community environments
Why Early Intervention Matters
The strongest evidence consistently points toward intervention occurring as early as possible. Effective approaches include:
- School-based safeguarding
- Trusted adult mentoring
- Family support services
- Trauma-informed practice
- Hospital-based youth intervention
- Diversion programmes
- Multi-agency information sharing
The UK Youth Justice Board has repeatedly highlighted the importance of targeted prevention and diversion programmes in reducing knife crime involving children.
A Shift From Enforcement to Prevention
Enforcement will always play an important role in public safety. However, evidence from both sides of the Atlantic suggests that policing alone cannot solve the underlying causes of violence.
Successful violence prevention now depends on:
- Collaboration between agencies
- Sharing intelligence and safeguarding data
- Understanding trauma
- Supporting vulnerable families
- Building trusted relationships with young people
This is why public health approaches are increasingly central to national violence prevention strategies.
Looking Ahead
Violence prevention is no longer just about responding after harm occurs. It is about identifying risk early, intervening compassionately and creating systems that support children and communities before crisis points are reached.
The evidence is clear:
- Early intervention reduces reoffending
- Trauma-informed support improves outcomes
- Prevention-focused systems save lives
For organisations working in safeguarding, policing, education, health and local government, the future of violence prevention lies in enforcement alongside prevention and early support.
