Gang Exit Funding

This decision outlines additional funding offered from NHS England (London) and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to contribute to the outcomes delivered through the London Gang Exit programme.

That the DMPC approve:
(a) The acceptance of £50,000 funding from NHS England to support the London Gang Exit Programme.
(b) The acceptance of £50,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions to support the London Gang Exit programme

1. Introduction and background

1.1. After an open and competitive grant process, decision “DMPCD 2015 115 Award of a £1,250,000 grant to Safer London Foundation for the Pan-London Gang Exit and Resettlement Programme”, approved the award of funds to a successful consortium, led by Safer London, to mobilise a gang exit service which will go live in January 2016 until October 2017.

1.2. Pursuant to that decision, MOPAC will provide grant funding of £1,000,000 and the London Community Rehabilitation Company, operated by MTCnovo, (herein after referred to as CRC) are providing the balance of £250,000. CRC will in addition provide in-kind support to the value of £250,000. By using gang exit as a measure of success, the outcomes achieved will go beyond reducing violent crime. Outcomes will include increased job prospects, stable housing, better mental and physical health, while also achieving a greater reduction in crime and victimisation for London. These broad and ambitious outcomes mean that the programme will appeal to wider partners who will benefit from this work.

2. NHS and Department for Work and Pensions Funding

2.1. NHS England and the Department for Work and Pensions have expressed an interest in becoming funders of the London Gang Exit programme to support the outcomes of the programme in recognition that these contribute to outcomes beyond policing and crime.

2.2. NHS England have supported the programme throughout the commissioning process, attending working group meetings and had a representative on the scoring panel that chose the successful bid. NHS England are particularly interested in increasing understanding of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) within gangs and developing stronger collaborative working with MOPAC, and are therefore keen to support the Pan-London Gang Exit programme. To support the programme, NHS England will provide funding of £50,000.

2.3. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are also supportive of the programme, recognising the shared outcomes to achieve positive employment outcomes for this challenging cohort. MOPAC has applied for a grant through the DWP Community Budget to support this programme and contribute to joint and shared outcomes.To support the programme, the DWP will provide funding of £50,000.

2.4. It is therefore recommended that MOPAC accept funding to support the programme and foster closer working relations with key partners.

3. Additional funding from other organisations in the future.

3.1. It is anticipated that once the process proves to be successful, local authorities may want to buy-in the programme at a future date. This could apply to boroughs that are unable to commission specialist services where demand is small and the cost of procurement means it is difficult to commission at a borough level. Conversely, this could support those boroughs that require specialist services that are offered from the consortia.

3.2. However, we have been clear that this programme will not reduce existing funding through MOPAC’s London Crime Prevention Fund (LCPF). The LCPF is a four year funding allocation which was made to boroughs in 2013/14. These grant agreements are dependent upon the delivery of agreed outcomes and future funding from the Home Office.

4. Financial Comments

4.1. This additional funding of £100k from NHS England and the Department for Work and Pensions will contribute towards the outcomes of the existing Gang Exit programme which is currently funded by MOPAC core funding and the London Community Rehabilitation Company. This additional money contributes to the overall investment by MOPAC and the CRC of £1.25M.

5. Legal Comments

5.1. 5.1. The statutory basis for MOPAC’s funding of and participation in the programme is as set out in decision “DMPCD 2015 115 Award of a £1,250,000 grant to Safer London Foundation for the Pan-London Gang Exit and Resettlement Programme”.

5.2. 5.2. This decision relates to MOPAC’s intention to accept funding from third parties, which it will then use as contributions to the costs of the programme, to supplement the funding already provided by MOPAC. It is assumed that the third parties have the necessary powers to make the contributions.

5.3. 5.3. Section 93(1) Police Act 1996 empowers MOPAC to accept gifts of money in connection with the discharge of any of its functions. As there is an established statutory basis for MOPAC’s involvement in the programme, this power enables MOPAC to accept gifts of money from third parties to use for that purpose.

5.4. 5.4. Under MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, paragraph 4.8, the approval of all offers made of grant funding is a matter reserved to DMPC. This is subject to the provisions of paragraph 1.7 which permit DMPC from time to time to make specific delegations to officers within MOPAC.

6. Equality Comments

6.1. London gangs do disproportionately impact on particular protected characteristics as outlined in detail in previous decisions (e.g. DMPCD 2015 115).

6.2. As part of the Strategic Ambitions document an Equality Impact Assessment was completed and found that young people, particularly Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), are disproportionately affected both as victims and perpetrators of gang violence.

7. Background/supporting papers

7.1. Decision paper ‘London Crime Prevention Fund – Final Allocation 2015/16’ /sites/default/files/DMPCD%202015%2016%20London%20Crime%20Prevention%20Fund.pdf

7.2. Decision paper ‘Award of a £1,250,000 grant to Safer London Foundation for the Pan-London Gang Exit and Resettlement Programme.’ /priorities/policing-crime/mopac-decisions/2015/october-2015