REDUCING violence in our community is a huge challenge. Violence should not be an inevitable fact of life. We don't have to accept that lives are lost or blighted by violence in any form. Whether it is domestic violence, violence against women and ch
ildren, or alcohol and drug-related violence, action is required to eradicate it now.
Edinburgh is fortunate to have lower levels of violence than many other major cities. Nonetheless, it is a priority issue.
Tackling violence represents a challenge for many agencies and effective, long-term reductions will only occur if we work together.
There is no room for complacency when it comes to dealing with this issue. The profound impact violence has on victims, perpetrators, witnesses and families is obvious.
The term "violence against women" encompasses the spectrum of abuse experienced disproportionately by women and perpetrated predominately by men. This gender-based violence is a pressing public health issue, carrying a considerable, if often hidden, health cost in terms of both morbidity and mortality.
The physical, emotional and psychological consequences of abuse can be profound and damaging to both women and their dependants. On average, more than 660 women a year are presenting as homeless due to domestic violence forcing them from their homes.
The availability of alcohol and its misuse by a minority, coupled with links to crimes of disorder and violence, gives real cause for concern. While alcohol per se is not recorded as a factor in reported crime, anecdotal evidence suggests clear links.
Frontline officers from police, A&E departments, council community safety teams and victim support agencies report that either the offender, victim or often both are regularly found to be under the influence at the time of an offence.
In addition, the majority of such violence and disorder takes place during the trading hours of licensed premises. In Edinburgh city centre, police record on average 350 incidents on licensed premises each month, over 4000 per year. Mapping for crimes of violence clearly shows a connection between areas with high availability of alcohol and high incidence of violence.
Through the Edinburgh Violence Reduction Programme, our aim is to create an even safer environment. Tackling violence requires not only enforcement through innovative and traditional techniques, but long-term attitudinal change. We cannot do this alone and the new programme is a true multi-agency response.
We are committed to preventing violence from occurring, addressing those individuals at risk of becoming victims or offenders.
We intend to make a difference and, with your help, we will.
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Councillor Paul Edie, chair of the Community Safety Partnership The full article contains 451 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
