15 May 2026
Teesside has secured more than £1.3 million in Labour Government funding to continue efforts to reduce serious violence and keep young people away from crime.
The funding will allow the Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV) to continue its work for another year, including placing specialist navigators in police custody suites, hospital emergency departments and schools to support vulnerable young people and help steer them away from violence. Since launching in 2022, CURV has reached more than 115,000 young people and over 17,000 adults through programmes delivered alongside police, schools, councils and health services.
The funding will also support initiatives including focused deterrence programmes, youth engagement projects, violence reduction work in town centres and sport-based interventions delivered with MFC Foundation’s Premier League Kicks programme.
The announcement comes as the Labour Government continues to expand neighbourhood policing and strengthen efforts to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. Cleveland Police has welcomed 48 new neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs over the last year through Labour’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.
However, Luke Myer MP has continued to push for reforms to the police funding formula to get more resources to the frontline. In response to recent questions in Parliament by Luke, policing ministers acknowledged that the formula “is not fit for purpose” for Cleveland and would be brought “up to date”.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said:
“I am pleased that the Home Office has renewed funding for CURV to continue vital support for children and young people in Cleveland.
“Plans for CURV for the next year include life-changing work – not something that can be delivered in a few weeks or months. It is about building on the progress already made and continuing to deliver interventions that create real change.
“CURV has supported thousands of some of the area’s most vulnerable young people and securing this funding means we have a new opportunity to build upon the unit’s achievement, while supporting the priorities of my Police and Crime Plan.
Luke Myer MP said:
“Too often, serious violence ruins lives, blights communities and traps young people in a cycle that can be difficult to escape. Programmes like CURV intervene early, support vulnerable young people and help steer them towards a better future before crime takes hold.
“I’m pleased the Labour Government has granted another £1.3 million for this work in our area. Alongside more neighbourhood police officers on our streets, it forms part of a wider effort to make our communities safer and give young people the opportunities they deserve.”