Paul Owens and Karl Ashton from the Daniel Fox Foundation standing outside. Behind them is an anti-knife crime mural on a wall. Karl is holding a small dog in his arms.
People, communities and organisations from across Merseyside are coming together to highlight the vital work they are doing to increase safety and reduce serious violent crime across the region.
Together As One is a multi-agency campaign, demonstrating the vast array of work that is being carried out by a diverse range of individuals and groups who are united in a common goal to show that Merseyside will not and does not tolerate serious violence.
Led by Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, Together As One follows on from the launch of the Serious Violence Duty in 2023, which placed a statutory responsibility on organisations to collaborate and plan to prevent and reduce serious violence.
The partnership brings together the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the five local authorities, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, and the North West Prisons and Probation Service, with a shared commitment to build a safer, stronger region.
As well as highlighting the measures these organisations and public services are taking to tackle serious violence in Merseyside, the campaign is also an opportunity to showcase some of the brilliant projects and initiatives, and the amazing people behind them, who are changing things for the better.
Over the past year, violent crime has reduced by more than 36%, in the areas identified as hotspots for ASB and serious violence. In some areas, it’s down by as much as 50%, whilst knife crime across the region has decreased by 6.5%.
Our region has come a long way in reducing and preventing serious violence so it’s important we showcase the brilliant work that has already gone in to achieving this significant decrease in violent crime.
Across Merseyside, we are very lucky to have hundreds of dedicated organisations and people working to improve safety in our region, and the evidence shows it’s working. They are the true champions of their communities and their commitment to violence prevention can never be understated.
Despite these significant reductions in serious and violent crime, we are determined to drive these figures down further and there is still more we can all do to achieve that.
Together As One is an opportunity to highlight this inspiring work to empower more communities to take an active role in crime prevention.
Anyone can be affected by serious violence and sadly, our region is no stranger to the life-changing consequences – for victims, relatives, loved ones, friends and witnesses – when tragedies occur. That’s what drives us all to work even harder and why prevention is essential.
We are always stronger together and by working as one, we can each make Merseyside a region free from violence and the fear of violence and safer place for all.
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell
We are proud to support the launch of the Together As One campaign, alongside a wide range of partners dedicated to reducing and preventing serious violence in Merseyside.
To drive real change, collaboration between sectors and the people within our communities is vital to tackle the root causes of violence and identify what can be done to prevent it.
This approach is exactly what we are doing during our hotspot patrols across Merseyside – deploying uniformed officers on targeted patrols in the areas that need it most, while also investing in measures such as CCTV and youth initiatives to keep people safe and intervene early. We fully support this campaign, which shows the strength of working together to build a better, brighter future.
Superintendent Phil Mullally, Merseyside Police Lead for Serious Violence and Knife Crime
The Daniel Fox Foundation runs an anti-knife crime education programme, showing thousands of young people the consequences of carrying a knife. They were established in 2017 following the fatal stabbing of 29-year-old Daniel in St Helens.
Daniel’s family were keen to turn their own personal tragedy into a more positive outcome, and to use their experience to give back to people who supported them.
To mark the launch of Together As One, a special video, showing the Foundation’s work with Primary School children has been released.
If I can make somebody think twice about picking up a weapon or committing some sort of serious violence then it’s a good thing.
I did a care home, one of the young lads had an incident in school, somebody brought a knife in and he said ‘immediately I knew what to do, I went and spoke to the staff who dealt with it but I only knew what to do because you told me.
I do a primary school session and hardly touch on what happened. It’s mainly about them and the risks and consequences of picking up a weapon and who is affected by this single act of violence.
This is a consequence for us and what happened through serious violence. It’s devastated us but it’s brought us together and hopefully something good can come out of it.
Karl Ashton, Daniel’s stepdad and CEO of the Daniel Fox Foundation
The campaign is supported by a new website that will act as a central hub to showcase the work of organisations such as The Daniel Fox Foundation and The Inclusive Hub in Liverpool, as well as initiatives being delivered to school children by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service as well as the Mentors In Violence programme from Merseyside Youth Association.
Together As One artwork will also feature at key locations across the region, including billboards, on buses and bus stops and in local newspapers and social media channels.