Looking back on focused deterrence across Sussex

Wavehill evaluated three focused deterrence interventions commissioned by the Sussex Violence Reduction Partnership and delivered through local Youth Justice Services.

The work explored how the models operated across Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex, what they added to existing support, and how they contributed to earlier, more person-focused responses to young people at risk of serious violence or weapon carrying.

Approach

The evaluation combined programme and monitoring data with engagement across delivery teams, police leads, participants and a parent. It examined how each area identified young people, organised support and applied the core elements of focused deterrence.

Impact

Identification worked best when the Habitual Knife Carrier matrix was combined with current intelligence from police, safeguarding, exploitation and social care teams. This gave practitioners a fuller view of risk and enabled support to begin before situations escalated.
Delivery was flexible, relationship-based and shaped around each young person. Dedicated capacity widened the activities and practical support available, while voluntary engagement in Brighton and Hove and West Sussex gave young people greater choice and control.
Staff described stronger information-sharing, earlier intervention and more consistent follow-through between services. Participants who responded said they felt listened to, understood more about the effects of knife carrying, and became more aware of the support and options available to them.
Recorded crime data also showed lower average monthly figures during engagement than in the 12 months beforehand. Across all 88 participants, the average monthly crime rate fell from 1.3 to 1.1, the average cost of recorded crime fell from £6,267 to £4,914, and the average severity score fell from 287.4 to 179.1.

The work left Sussex with a clearer basis for developing a more cohesive model, strengthening shared expectations across agencies and embedding consistent monitoring. It also established a practical foundation for maintaining youth voice and tracking changes in risk, engagement and outcomes as the interventions developed.

The report is available to read here.