ISTV in practice: West Midlands – We need to grasp ‘teachable moments’
01/07/2025
Dr Katie Wright, an Emergency Physician at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, shares a powerful insight into how Emergency Departments can play a central role in breaking cycles of violence. Drawing on her work with the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership, Katie explores how consistent information sharing (ISTV), early intervention, and cross-sector collaboration can save lives and support vulnerable families. This article highlights real challenges, practical solutions, and inspiring examples of change—from youth work in the ED to interventions that reach deep into communities. Click image to read the full article.
Podcast
25/06/2025
In this episode of the ISTV Podcast, Karyn McCluskey, Jonathan Shepherd and Michael Cheetham join interviewer Saleyha Ahsan to discuss the critical issue of violence prevention in emergency medicine. They delve into the scale of the problem.
Discover How Data Can Prevent Violence: An Introduction to the Cardiff Model
11/06/2025
The Cardiff Model – also known as ISTV (Information Sharing to Tackle Violence) – is a pioneering, evidence-based approach that uses anonymised Emergency Department data to inform local violence prevention efforts. Developed by Professor Jonathan Shepherd, the model has led to a dramatic reduction in violence-related injuries in Cardiff and beyond. This brief and accessible explainer outlines how multi-agency collaboration, informed by ED data, can make our communities safer—saving lives, reducing crime, and delivering significant cost savings. Whether you’re a clinician, policymaker, or public health professional, this document will show the crucial role you can play in violence prevention. Click below to read more.
Become an ISTV Ambassador – Help Make Communities Safer
11/06/2025
This document is a call to action for all Emergency Department staff to support the Information Sharing to Tackle Violence (ISTV) initiative. By becoming an ISTV Ambassador, you play a vital role in gathering anonymised data that helps identify patterns of violence and enables targeted prevention efforts in partnership with local agencies.
Find out how you can get involved, promote ISTV in your department, and access free resources to support the cause. Together, we can make our hospitals and communities safer.
Click on the image to open the full blog.
Preventing serious violence using ED data
Your hospital. Your community. The part you play.
‘Information Sharing to Tackle Violence (ISTV)’ is a national programme which sets to reinvigorate the recording of data in EDs.
| A guide for clerical staff | A guide for clinical staff | A guide for all healthcare workers |
Click to watch the Video |
Click to watch the Video |
Click to watch the Video |
The overall aim is to help reduce serious violence – a role in which those working in EDs play a critical part.
- When we know where and how people are injured, up to one-third of injuries from violence can be prevented
- Research shows violence-related injuries treated in the ED decreases by up to one-third when data is collated effectively
- Information is shared anonymously with community safety partnership teams with the aim to prevent violence-related injuries, especially knife and gang related assaults.
We are asking all EDs to read and adopt the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Three short films have been produced to help those inputting data to show why their support is important, how they can make a difference and the detail that will help form the bigger picture. Please also see Documentation below.
NHS Poster for hospital waiting areas ‘We need your help to make our communities safer…’
Blog
Podcast
Listen to our previous ISTV podcasts
Newsletters
May 2025
The May 2025 ISTV newsletter highlights the crucial role that Emergency Departments play in preventing serious violence through the collection and sharing of anonymised data. At a recent national learning event in London, healthcare professionals, data analysts, and violence reduction experts gathered to discuss best practices and the real-world impact of the Information Sharing to Tackle Violence (ISTV) model. With contributions from leading clinicians and government officials, the event reinforced the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling violence, supported by inspiring stories and proven results. Explore how ISTV is shaping safer communities and why it matters to every ED team.
April 2025
As part of our drive to increase awareness of ISTV, we spoke to the mastermind who developed the Cardiff Model, from which ISTV was borne. Professor Jonathan Shepherd CBE developed the Cardiff Model for violence prevention to help capture data on violence-related crime that all too often goes unreported – almost three-quarters of those attending EDs having been injured in violence do not tell the police.
Features from the event launch, 6 March 2024
The Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit – Rachel Jenner
ISTV in London – Adam Woodgate
The Cardiff Model for Violence Prevention – Jonathan Shepherd
The Serious Violence Duty – Laura Baynton and Neil Round
Violence Prevention Data Sharing and the ED – Katie Wright
Violence Reduction Data in the ED – Michael Cheetham
ISTV and Where it Fits In – Adrian Boyle
ISTV in London – Adam Woodgate
The Cardiff Model for Violence Prevention – Jonathan Shepherd
Violence Reduction Data in the ED – Michael Cheetham
Violence prevention, data sharing and the ED – Dr Katie Wright
Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit – Dr Rachel Jenner
Discussion Panel – Adam Woodgate, Dr Katie Wright, Dr Rachel Jenner
Supporting Resources
ISTV supporting documentation: Procedures, FAQs, Factsheets, Checklists, Staff Guides
ISTV Standard Operating Procedure
ISTV Standard Operating Procedure FAQs
ISTV Standard Operating Procedure Factsheet
