In 2006/7 British Crime Survey it was found that approximately half of violence was between strangers and the other half was between people who had some form of relationship with each other. Therefore, it is useful to look at violence in two contexts:
Private Space Violence
Violence which primarily takes place in private, often in the home, usually between individuals who have or have had a relationship with each other, this includes domestic violence and sexual violence.
Public Space Violence
Violence which primarily takes place in public, often by, among or targeted at groups of people, and often committed by individuals who are strangers (or not intimately known) to each other, this includes youth and gang violence, gun and knife crime, hate crime and alcohol related violence.
PSA Targets
Much has been achieved with respect to violent crime over the past ten years, yet the figures demonstrate that there is still more to do, particularly in terms of tackling more serious violence.
New Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets have been published to prioritise seriousness:
PSA Delivery Agreement 23: Make Communities Safer
Priority Action 1: Reduce the most serious violence, including tackling serious sexual offences and domestic violence
PSA Delivery Agreement 25: Reduce the harm caused by Alcohol and Drugs
