The FBI’s Pittsburgh field office has formed a task force to address violent crime in Western Pennsylvania, including Butler County.

The task force is designed to address increasingly violent behavior and bank robberies, according to a news release issued Monday.

In many communities surrounding Pittsburgh there is more violent crime per capita than Philadelphia, according to the release.

The task force’s initial focus is on Beaver and Allegheny counties, but FBI officials are looking to partner with law enforcement in Butler County, public affairs specialist Catherine Policicchio said Monday.

The task force is looking to address recent trends in the region including an increase in bank robberies, kidnappings, murders for hire and homicides. Participating law enforcement agencies will get overtime pay and equipment, according to the release.

“These violent crimes often times involve deadly weapons, drugs and drug trafficking and we need to send a message to our community that this type of behavior will not be tolerated,” said Chad Yarbrough, assistant special agent in charge with the Pittsburgh field office.

On Friday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of the Pittsburgh task force and another one in Charlotte, N.C.

The Department of Justice is providing additional federal prosecutors to multiple cities affected by violent crime including Toledo, Ohio, Central Islip, N.Y. and Memphis, Tenn.

Specific violent crime data was not available for Butler County, but prosecutors have been working on six unrelated homicide cases that were committed in the county over the past two years. Two more homicide cases being investigated outside Butler County involve former county residents as suspects.