London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) aims to tackle violent crime by taking a systematic public health approach.
The London Assembly has today called for the Mayor to publish expenditure and performance evaluations of each individual project funded or commissioned by the VRU.
Shaun Bailey AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is the Mayor’s flagship initiative to tackle violent crime in London but it needs to provide more information. We don’t know how the VRU is spending taxpayers’ cash and whether its projects are keeping London safe.
“With a budget nearing £30 million, the Mayor must provide us with a breakdown of the VRU’s expenditure and performance evaluations for its projects. This information is vital to the London Assembly’s scrutiny work. The Mayor must provide it.”
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly notes that the London Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) recognises the importance of transparency and said they would provide the necessary information for Assembly Members to properly scrutinise its work.
Therefore, this Assembly calls for the Mayor to ensure that the Violence Reduction Unit provides details of expenditure and performance evaluations of each individual project funded or commissioned by the VRU to Members of the Police and Crime Committee.
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast.
- The motion was agreed unanimously.
- Shaun Bailey AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interviews.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Emma Bowden on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.