Youth work key to London's £5m violence prevention programme

“I am concerned about a potential increase in violence this summer as the cost-of-living crisis deepens and threatens to reverse the progress we have made in tackling violent crime,” the mayor of London told the Guardian. 

However, he added that “violence, like poverty, is not inevitable” and called on the Conservative leadership candidates to share in his commitment to reduce violence in London.

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Khan said more than half of shootings in London and nearly a quarter of homicides were believed to be linked to gangs.

In response to Khan’s concerns, the mayor’s VRU has shared details of projects in place to protect young Londoners from violent crime over the summer.

A £5m package includes support for councils to prevent serious violent incidents from occurring as well as a £1m programme to start delivering sports activities for 3,800 young Londoners.

Some £4.5m is being invested through the London Crime Prevention Fund for councils to fund local violence reduction initiatives, including mentoring and youth work services, sports activities and reducing reoffending programmes, the VRU said. 

“This investment will support and benefit up to 15,000 young people and community members throughout the summer and into 2023,” it added.

Meanwhile, £500,000 is planned to provide further additional support to boroughs to prevent violence through its Critical Incident Fund.

The fund is designed to support local authorities to prevent a serious incident from occurring through resources like targeted youth work and mediation or community events.

Lib Peck, director of London’s VRU said: “Our approach to tackling violence in London is rooted in prevention and early intervention. We know the challenges that the summer brings when traditionally we’ve seen increases in violence. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial we work in partnership with councils and others across the capital to deliver a programme of activities and opportunities for young Londoners.

“We’re not only providing councils with investment to deliver prevention programmes throughout the summer, but also a pot of funding they can access when it’s clear targeted action such as youth work may help in preventing violence.

“We also know that sport has the power to unite people and communities. We’re investing in a sports programme that will deliver football, boxing, hockey, netball and other activities through the summer and beyond because we believe violence is preventable, not inevitable.”