Author: Will Linden In this extract from an article published in The International Journal of Psychotherapy our co-deputy director Will Linden writes that interventions which try to “fix” the individual will likely have limited success in reducing violence, and what is needed is a holistic approach which meets people where they are. Violence is a […]
Why a smörgåsbord of interventions won’t solve violence Read More »
An early-years education programme which encourages children to build their confidence and self-esteem while managing their emotions at a young age is being introduced in Glasgow nurseries. Think Equal aims to prevent harmful behaviours in later life by supporting the emotional and social development and wellbeing of children aged three to six. The programme uses
Think Equal programme gets under way after launch event at Glasgow nursery Read More »
Around 30 students and staff on the hair styling and barber courses at Glasgow Clyde College have attended a workshop looking at how to support conversations around mental health when cutting men’s hair. The Brothers in Arms charity and the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) delivered the training input which aims to upskill barbers in
Student barbers learning to open up conversations about mental health Read More »
In this guest blog Professor Susan McVie looks at the remarkable drop in violence among young people in Scotland over two decades. The blog first appeared at www.changingviolence.org and is reproduced here with Prof McVie’s permission. Over the last twenty years, Scotland’s success in reducing violence has been attributed to many factors, but one thing
Scotland’s Young People Demonstrate Success in Violence Reduction Read More »
One Community Scotland has received a Chief Constable’s Excellence Award for their work with Glasgow’s New Scots community. The charity picked-up the award in the equality, diversity and inclusion category at a ceremony on Friday, 10th February at Tulliallan, the Scottish Police College. The category recognises projects which have made a significant contribution towards creating
Charity Win Excellence Award Read More »
Responding to the latest Homicide in Scotland 2021 – 2022 figures Will Linden, deputy director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit said: “Every life lost to violence is a tragedy and even more so as we know all violence is preventable. The latest homicide figures for Scotland show 53 people lost their lives in 2021
Homicide in Scotland 2021- 2022 statement Read More »
Responding to the latest National Statistics: Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletin for the year ending June 2022, Will Linden, deputy director of the SVRU, said: “The latest figures show Scotland has seen measures of some of the most serious forms of violence significantly reducing with murder and culpable homicide down 23% and serious assault and
NATIONAL STATISTICS: RECORDED CRIME IN SCOTLAND BULLETIN JUNE 2022 STATEMENT 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
Damilola Taylor was killed in Peckham in November 2000 at the age of 10. He dreamed of being a doctor. One week before he died, Damilola wrote of his hope to save the world. The Hope Collective, formed to support the 20th anniversary legacy campaign for Damilola Taylor, is a powerful partnership of leading cross
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.