Extra funding has been granted to help combat issues that matter to people across Staffordshire.

£435,585 has been awarded to the Staffordshire Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Commissioner's Office to support targeted problem-solving activity and partnership work across the county.

Staffordshire Police said that the extra cash will mean they "can continue to drive lasting change in local communities".

Funding will be used by local problem-solving teams across local policing areas to increase proactive patrols and reduce crime.

There will be a specific focus on addressing the factors which contribute to knife crime in specific areas of the county.

Chief Inspector Scott Gidman, from Staffordshire Police's Problem Solving and Intervention Team, said: "We fully recognise that delivering lasting change in local communities cannot be achieved by police alone, and this is why initiatives like this are so important for local people and businesses.

"By adopting a similar multi-agency approach, we were able to work collectively with our partners to reduce overall crime in targeted areas across Staffordshire last year, with notable reductions in serious violence and knife crime.

"We'll be using a similar data-led approach with this new funding, allowing us to focus proactive efforts on targeted policing and partnership action in the areas that will benefit from it the most."

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Staffordshire Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Commissioner, Ben Adams said: "Although knife crime accounts for less than 1 per cent of all crime in Staffordshire, it has devastating impacts on individuals, communities and families.

"This funding will help us strengthen work already taking place between Staffordshire Police, local authorities and our wider partners to keep our communities safe.

"This is not just about enforcement.

"We know that the most effective way to prevent crime is for organisations to work together, share information, understand local concerns and address the root causes of violence.

"This funding will enable us to take a targeted, evidence-based approach, focusing resources where data and local insight show they can make the greatest difference."