Government pledges £3m to take on youth crime

The funding is focused on ten police forces taking part in the Tackling Knives Action Programme which launched earlier this year. It follows a £2m government investment in tackling knife crime.

The money will be used to roll out after-school police patrols and Operation Staysafe, which will see police removing at-risk young people from the streets at night. It will also fund dedicated police officers promoting safety in schools and working with at-risk young people.

Children's secretary Ed Balls said: "By helping the ten priority areas in establishing safer schools partnerships, police and schools can work together to educate and inform young people about their responsibilities to be law abiding citizens."

Deputy assistant commissioner Alf Hitchcock, head of the Tackling Knives Action Programme, said: "Young people tell us that the period after school can be when conflicts arise between different groups and an increase in police presence can help them be and feel safe."

The ten areas taking part are: London, Essex, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and Thames Valley.

The announcement comes in the same week that 16-year-old Joey Lappin was stabbed to death as he left a Liverpool youth club.