Multi-sectoral violence prevention research: From better measurement to improved policy and practice

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About Us

Our VISION

The Violence, Health, and Society (VISION) consortium is funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership. We are a collaboration of epidemiologists, economists, data scientists, criminologists, evaluation experts, and clinicians working in collaboration with service providers, policy makers and people with lived experience of violence.

Our aim is to drive reductions in all kinds of violence and the associated health inequalities by better measurement, data linkage and new findings about the causes and impact of violence. Our research findings and policy recommendations are framed through a whole systems approach that includes looking at the wider context and structural factors. In the first three years of the consortium, we produced a suite of evidence reviews, violence research guidance and primary research from health and crime surveys, health service, police and domestic and sexual violence specialist services data.

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VISION research has deepened understanding, improved measurement, and proposed actionable solutions to address violence and the associated health inequalities. We have:

VISION findings

  • Explored differences in crime survey data between England and Wales. Given the differences in prevalence and trends in violence between Wales and England, using Wales-specific estimates and trends in violence is recommended.
  • Exposed the lack of data on abuse in teenage relationships and violence affecting young people under 16. Further research specific to UK is required.
  • Identified missing data in police records and developed methods to automate corrections with high accuracy.
  • Investigated violence at different life stages (children, adolescents, etc.) and in various contexts (e.g., workplaces, public spaces) and the hidden and under-researched groups impacted by long-term effects such as migrants and older age.
  • Gaps exist in violence prevention for migrants and state policies can exacerbate vulnerability.
  • Through the use of AI and Natural Language Processing to analyse datasets we have uncovered underreported violence, including technology-facilitated abuse.
  • Critiqued existing violence measurement methods and suggested alternative, more inclusive definitions.

  • Created synthetic datasets and used Natural Language Processing (NLP) to analyse written data.
  • Developed new tools for standardising and improving violence measurement across sectors.
  • Developed a risk of bias ethnicity tool to support VISION researchers and beyond to mitigate the risk of introducing or reproducing bias regarding ethnicity and migration in data, analysis and reporting findings.

  • Fostered collaboration across disciplines to generate new insights about violence.
  • Linked research findings to real-world applications in policy, education, and public health.

  • Investigated the effects of violence on the mental health of those with close relatives who were seriously assaulted. Families of victims of violent assault have double the risk of anxiety.
  • Studied the effects of violence in the workplace on mental health. There is a need for targeted funding and policy development on mental and physical health for those impacted by violence in the workplace.
  • Explored under-researched areas like the role of commercial actors. VISION researched the specific ways in which companies and commercial processes might shape not only our health – but also the nature and extent of violence in societies

  • Examined the intersection of violence with socioeconomic inequalities and austerity policies. Socioeconomic instability and restrictive policies disproportionately impact women and marginalised groups.
  • Analysed gender-specific impacts, such as higher rates of multiple victimisation among women. Broader definitions of violence reveal higher prevalence and emotional impact, especially on women.

  • Developed strategies to better influence policymakers and improve policy relevance.
  • Communicated across government that current data collection methods are narrow and underestimate violence and exclude key groups.
  • Advocated for comprehensive approaches to violence prevention involving businesses and the broader community.

  • Established connections between violence and health issues like childhood obesity and chronic illness, particularly in women.
  • Advocated for using public health frameworks to mitigate violence. There is a need for comprehensive societal interventions.

  • Focused on building a new generation of researchers and enhancing technical skills among crime analysts.
  • Shared findings to expand understanding of violence’s societal and individual costs.

ABOUT US

Funding & Academic Partners

VISION is funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (Grant MR/V049879/1). The multi-funder initiative supports novel research into the primary prevention of non-communicable diseases to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.
UKPRP is funded by the British Heart Foundation, Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, Natural Environment Research Council, Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), the Health Foundation and Wellcome.
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