Lancashire's Violence Reduction Network, which is overseen by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, has welcomed the expansion of a national knife crime crackdown announced by the Home Office.

Work in Lancashire is already underway, after the LVRN secured £600,000 in funding from the Knife Crime Concentration Fund earlier this year.

While 27 forces received funding at the same time Lancashire is one of only seven areas where work to implement local plans has already begun.

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Chief Inspector Gemma Barr, of the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network ,and Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw have welcomed the expansion of a national knife crime crackdown announced by the Home Office.

Funding is supporting a highly targeted, intelligence-led partnership approach, focusing resources where they are needed most. Work will focus on problem solving and identifying the underlying causes of knife crime to disrupt offending, protect vulnerable individuals, and prevent violence before it happens.

Commissioner Grunshaw said: "We know knife crime remains a concern and I'm really pleased to say that here in Lancashire, my VRN is leading the way and making significant progress to tackle the issue and to prevent people from carrying knives in the first place.

"By using local data and intelligence, we can identify areas that will benefit from targeted interventions and shape plans based on local need.

"This funding allows us to take a proactive approach, bringing agencies together to identify risks and causes of violent behaviour and to disrupt offending and support those who may be vulnerable to becoming involved in knife crime. By acting early and working collectively, we're helping to prevent harm before it happens to make our communities safer."

Chief Inspector Gemma Barr from Lancashire's VRN said she was proud that the county was one of the few areas where targeted action plans to prevent knife crime are already being put into practice, adding: "Through close partnership working, we are delivering coordinated action to prevent harm and to tackle the issues that make people more vulnerable to engaging in violent crime.

"Knife crime is the symptom of many complex underlying causes. By taking a collaborative problem-solving approach, we will continue to reduce knife crime in Lancashire."

Lancashire has seen a significant decrease in knife offences, with 1,151 offences recorded in 2025, down from 1,359 in the previous year. The county’s VRN has been actively involved in tackling knife crime through various initiatives, including the Sceptre week of action, which saw over 2,000 knives removed and 201 arrests made.