'Merseyside Together' sign
We have today released our 2024–25 Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) offering a comprehensive and evidence-based overview of serious violence across the region.
The SNA highlights key trends in serious violence, identifies risk and protective factors, and provides recommendations to improve outcomes for individuals and communities. It also reflects the voices of young people and residents across Merseyside, gathered through surveys and community engagement events.
Drawing on insights from emergency services, public health, education, and lived experiences, the SNA paints a detailed picture of the challenges facing Merseyside – and the opportunities to overcome them.
The data reveals a promising trend: serious violence-related emergency department attendances among under-25s are at their lowest since the pandemic. But the report also shines a light on persistent inequalities—particularly in education, care experiences, and community safety.
“This report is more than numbers – it’s about people.
“It’s about understanding the root causes of violence and working together to prevent it. The voices of young people, families, and communities are loud and clear: they want safety, opportunity, and support.
“The SNA gives us the evidence we need to deliver that and a blueprint for how we can work together to tackle and prevent serious violence in our region.”
Emily Spurrell, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner
“We believe violence is preventable. This assessment shows us where to focus, how to act, and why it matters.
“From the impact of poverty and exclusion to the resilience of young people and the strength of local partnerships, the report highlights both the risks and the hope.
“From trauma-informed interventions to youth-led programmes, we’re building a system that listens, learns, and leads. The young people who spoke so passionately at our Driving Change conference earlier this year were a powerful reminder that prevention works – and that we must keep going.”
Director of the MVRP, Superintendent Georgie Garvey
The SNA includes feedback from more than 5,000 residents and young people, revealing that nearly half feel unsafe in public spaces at night. It also highlights the disproportionate impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the urgent need for better support for care-experienced young people.
Key recommendations include:
- Expanding early years and family-based interventions
- Improving data sharing and quality across services
- Supporting neurodiverse young people in justice settings
- Amplifying the voices of women and girls in safety planning