Niven Rennie, Director at the SVRU, was recently featured in the Scotland on Sunday as part of a wider investigation looking at the impact of lockdowns on young people. In an op-ed for the paper, he discussed the need for social cohesion and stressed how action needs to be taken now, not later. The piece […]
At the heart of Natla Jewellery Studio is a vision to provide sanctuary to those in the recovery community in Dundee through craft. It is the brainchild of Stephanie Graham who graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Jewellery and Metal Design in 2020. She established the More Than Profit mobile studio to make,
Using the power of creativity as part of a recovery journey Read More »
Inspector James Gray is the lead for the work of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit in the east of Scotland covering Edinburgh, the Lothians and Borders, Forth Valley and Fife. With an almost 30-year policing career, he discusses the importance of prevention work while challenging everyone to think about what it is we do to
Action – here and now. A view from Inspector James Gray Read More »
COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR X 1 YOUTH NAVIGATOR X 1 Glasgow Do you believe in second chances? Do you have the energy and commitment it takes to support someone to turn their life around? Could you help a young person make positive choices and achieve their full potential? Then come and work with us. The team behind
Vacancies – You Decide Team – Community Navigator and Youth Navigator posts Read More »
The director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit has been given the title of Honorary Professor as part of a new policing research collaboration. Niven Rennie was named one of the ambassadors of the Policing Innovation Enterprise Learning (PIEL) – a new international partnership with the purpose of driving progressive change in policing. PIEL is
Policing research honour for SVRU Director Read More »
Young people living in a community in Ayr are being invited to take part in a photography project to highlight what matters most to them. People in Wallacetown aged between 16 and 25 are being encouraged by researchers to get involved and capture pictures in the area. It is hoped the results from the project
Photography project aims to capture views of young people on their community Read More »
The number of years people in Scotland can expect to live in good health has fallen again, according to new figures. The Healthy Life Expectancy 2018 -2020 report shows those in our poorest communities now spend up to a third of their life on average in ill health. In this guest article writer and campaigner Kenneth Murray
Scots are living more of their lifetime in poor health – is it time for radical change? Read More »
Inspector Jason Peter has worked as a police officer for the past 15 years. In January 2021 he took up post to lead the SVRU’s work in Ayrshire. He has been working across the area, with a primary focus in Wallacetown – a community in Ayr, South Ayrshire. In this piece, Inspector Peter reflects on his
Building partnerships in Ayrshire – Inspector Jason Peter Read More »
As we approach the end of the year, the director of the SVRU, Niven Rennie, reflects on the last 12 months while looking ahead to achieving more progress in developing interventions and solutions to the violence that infects communities in Scotland. Despite the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, what are some of the key
Reflection on the past year – Niven Rennie Read More »
Inspector Cath Lannen has worked as a police officer for 29 years. For the last two years she’s been in charge of the SVRU’s work in Dundee and the surrounding area. It’s been a difficult time for the city with concern around drug-related death rates. Insp Lannen believes a lack of hope could lie at
Telephone: 01786 896785 Email: violence.reduction@scotland.pnn.police.uk
Niven has more than 30 years of operational policing experience in the United Kingdom. He joined Strathclyde Police in 1985 serving throughout the west of Scotland in a variety of ranks and positions before progressing to the rank of Chief Superintendent. Niven previously held the role of President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents where he represented the interests of the operational leaders of policing in Scotland.
On leaving Police Scotland in 2016 Niven took up the position of Chief Executive Officer of South Ayrshire Escape from Homelessness (SeAscape).
Niven was appointed director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit in July 2018.