Preventing violent crime

The recent surge in killings in north London has created public outcry. The Metropolitan police are investigating 55 murders in London so far this year. There have been welcome calls for a “public health approach” to tackling violent crime.1 But what does that entail?

Public health has a role in identifying risk and protective factors, monitoring and understanding the changing threat of violence, and supporting the development of a robust evidence base around what works for prevention and control.234

The public health lexicon describes primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. In criminal justice, these translate to preventing violence happening, controlling or reducing violence when it happens, and rehabilitating or reconciling individuals and communities after violence has occurred.4 A life course approach to violence prevention is also useful—through early years family support, home visits, training in parenting skills, and youth support programmes.245 Adverse childhood experiences influence criminal behaviour as well as mental and physical ill health in later life, and are of growing importance …