Kent has been awarded more than £1 million in an attempt to reduce violent crime across the county.

It is part of a Violence Reduction Unit set up with the help of the Home Office.

The £1.1 million of funding Kent has received will be used to set up a helpline and outreach service, with police working alongside the NHS and local councils.

Police and crime commissioner Matthew Scott speaks about the unit

Police and crime commissioner Matthew Scott said: "This will give us a really good picture of what our problems are, and allow us to build a 'problem profile'.

"The result of this will be much more specific targetting of public resources to help solve crime.

"We want to help people avoid a life of crime, and this new unit will help us to do that."

The outreach service will allow people to self-refer for help or get advice if they are worried someone they know is involved in crime.

This comes soon after the prime minister Boris Johnson pledged to employ 20,000 more police officers and increase prison staff.

Mr Scott believes the Violence Reduction Unit will provide a long-term solution to reducing crime in the county.

The scheme is part of £35 million given to 18 different areas across England.

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