A new comprehensive investment package of almost £50m to tackle crime and the complex causes of crime has been announced by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today (29 December).
This latest investment, which will run over the next three years, will fund grassroots crime prevention projects across the city and promote positive opportunities for Londoners in every borough in the capital through the London Crime Prevention Fund.
It will see more than £39m distributed between all 32 London boroughs and £9.8m awarded to projects already funded by the Mayor which will work with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to tackle criminal activity.
The funding will empower local authorities to tackle violence in their area, reduce offending in their communities and support victims locally and will include:
▪ A focus on providing mentoring and trauma-informed interventions for those at risk or involved in violence;
▪ Local problem solving to tackle anti-social behaviour, addressing perpetrator behaviour to make communities feel safer;
▪ Multi-agency approaches to safeguard young people from exploitation by gangs; initiatives that highlight the dangers of carrying a knife, action to prevent Violence Against Women and Girls and a joined-up approach to breaking the cycle of reoffending among the most prolific offenders.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Tackling violence and making our communities safer is my top priority. Over the past four years and before the pandemic we’ve seen youth violence, knife crime and gun crime come down, but it’s clear that there is much more to do. Every death from violent crime is heart-breaking, devastating families and communities.
“We know the challenges of the pandemic have exacerbated the causes of crime and violence and that’s why this investment is so important and so timely. This new funding package of almost £50 million will provide dedicated funding for local authorities now and allow them to work together to tackle complex problems across borough boundaries and support local communities to tackle violence and reduce offending where they are.
“I am more determined than ever to be tough on crime by investing in our police – ensuring record numbers of officers on our streets, as well as being tough on the causes of crime by providing sustained investment to deliver positive opportunities for young Londoners who need it most.”
