Research highlighted in Governments Serious Violence Strategy

A major research project led by a team of researchers from our Department of Criminology working with the Home Office has been highlighted in the Government’s latest ‘Serious Violence Strategy’ policy paper.

The paper sets out the government’s response to serious violence and recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide.

On page 75 the paper cites Leicester’s research into the range of motivations of those who carry out and use acid and corrosives and how they obtain them.

The project, which has been highlighted by national media including the BBC, is part of a national effort to tackle acid attacks, with some of the country’s largest retailers and independent business leaders in the UK pledging not to sell the most harmful corrosive substances to under 18s, as part of a series of voluntary commitments proposed by the Government.

Waitrose, B&Q, Morrisons, Wickes, Co-op, Screwfix and Tesco are among the major brands to sign the voluntary commitments on the responsible sale of corrosive substances.

The project is led by Dr Matt Hopkins and Professor Teela Sanders from our Department of Criminology.

Dr Hopkins said: “The Serious Violence Strategy is a comprehensive action plan that aims to prevent serious violence. It puts a series of measures in place to tackle knife crime, gun crime and corrosive substance attacks.

“The research being conducted by criminologists from the University of Leicester in relation to acid attacks will be crucial in understanding the motivations of offenders for using acid in violent crimes and developing preventative strategies.”