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 »
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 »
Jimmy Paul has been appointed as the next Head of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU), leading the unit in its work to identify innovative, evidence-based solutions to prevent violence across Scotland. Part of Police Scotland and directly funded by the Scottish Government with an annual budget of around £1million, the SVRU is a national
Jimmy Paul appointed Head of Scottish Violence Reduction Unit 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 »
Around 100 young people are making their voices heard on creating a fairer society at an event in Glasgow. The Hope Collective Hackathon sees 16 to 24-year-olds lead the debate on issues such as housing, justice, equality and education. The topics were chosen by young people as an attempt to get at the root causes
Young people call for fairer society at Glasgow event promoting hope Read More »
Hundreds of runners have taken part in a five-kilometre race held in memory of Moira Jones as it returned to Glasgow’s Queen’s Park for the first time since 2019. Moira’s Run brought together runners and walkers, some in fancy dress, from near and far to raise money for the Moira Fund. The charity was established
Return of Moira’s Run to Glasgow park Read More »
Staff at Glasgow Clyde College are undertaking workshops on how to understand the impact trauma can have on the lives of students. The trauma-informed and relationship-based practice sessions aim to enable staff to notice the signs and symptoms of trauma while upskilling them with the tools to deal with stress. It is being delivered by
Importance of awareness on impact of trauma highlighted through college partnership 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 »
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.