University Supports Pioneering Project Aiming to Prevent Serious Violence Amongst Young People

A police custody suite in Sleaford has been repurposed to create ‘The Happening,’ an innovative and interactive educational hub aimed at preventing serious violence among young people.

Developed by Lincolnshire Police, in collaboration with a dedicated multi-disciplinary team of academics from the University of Lincoln’s School of Social and Political Sciences and School of Psychology, ‘The Happening’ is a result of extensive research efforts over the past 12 months.

The team successfully secured £190,000 from the Home Office Homicide Prevention Fund to support the project, which began in January 2023.

The research conducted by the University team – which included Dr Anthony Ellis, Dr Lauren Smith, Professor Todd Hogue, Dr Sue Bond-Taylor, Dr Carina O’Reilly, and Ben Hookway – involved a thorough analysis of police-recorded data for knife-enabled offences involving young people, an impact evaluation of the Cambridge Serious Violence Training undertaken by Lincolnshire Police staff, and insightful interviews and focus groups with at-risk young people aged 16-25. This comprehensive research provided a crucial foundation for ‘The Happening.’

‘The Happening’ offers young people an immersive experience that delves into the myths and realities of serious violence and weapon-carrying. The hub comprises separate themed spaces, each addressing different aspects of these issues. These include

• The Cell: Encourages contemplation on the challenges faced by individuals who commit violent crimes, featuring real testimonies.
• The Gallery: Showcases artwork from individuals detained in HMP Lincoln, fostering reflection on the justice system both inside and outside prison walls.
• The Bus Stop and The Response: Educate young people on how to assist someone in the event of them becoming a victim of knife-enabled crime.

By providing a unique and immersive educational experience, ‘The Happening’ strives to empower young people with knowledge and tools to make informed choices, ultimately contributing to the reduction of serious violence in local communities.

Dr. Anthony Ellis, Associate Professor in Criminology and Principal Investigator of the Homicide Prevention Fund Project, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaborative effort: “It has been a pleasure to lead the research team and to work with our partners Lincolnshire Police on this research project. Serious violence inflicts great harm upon communities and is an important priority both regionally and nationally at the moment. This research and the new preventative initiative it has supported will make a positive contribution to current and future efforts to reduce serious violence in our local communities.”

Images provided by Dr Lauren Smith and Lincolnshire Police