Trends in Violence in England and Wales 2010-2014
BACKGROUND:
The
National Violence Surveillance Network (NVSN) of emergency departments (ED),
minor injuries units and walk-in-centres in England and Wales has brought
clarity to contradictory violence trends derived from crime survey and police
data. Gender, age-specific and regional trends in violence-related injury in
England and Wales since 2010 have not been studied.
METHODS:
Data on
violence-related injury were collected from a structured sample of 151 EDs in
England and Wales. ED attendance date and age and gender of patients who
reported injury in violence from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 were
identified from attendance codes, specified at the local level. Time series
statistical methods were used to detect both regional and national trends.
RESULTS:
In total,
247 016 (178 709 males: 72.3%) violence-related attendances were identified.
Estimated annual injury rate across England and Wales was 4.4/1000 population; males 6.5/1000 and females 2.4/1000. On average, overall attendances decreased by 13.8% per
year over the 5 years. Attendances decreased
significantly for both genders and all age groups; declines were greatest among children and adolescents. Significant
decreases in violence-related injury were found in all but two regions.
Violence peaked in May and July.
CONCLUSIONS:
From
an ED perspective, violence in England and Wales decreased substantially
between 2010 and 2014, especially among children and adolescents. Violence
prevention efforts should focus on regions with the highest injury rates and
during the period May-July.
- 1Violence Research Group, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
- 2Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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