In the Spring Statement, the Chancellor Philip Hammond today announced £100 million to be made available over the next year to tackle knife crime across England. The money will fund overtime and support violent crime units.
In response, Chairman of the London Assembly Police & Crime Committee, Steve O’Connell AM, said:
“We welcome this announcement. We wait to see exactly how this extra money might bolster the Met’s capacity to fight the rise in knife crime in London but we are pleased the Chancellor has responded to our calls for extra funds.
“We have argued that the focus must be on prevention as well as enforcement. That kind of painstaking work needs substantial investment, of time and money.
“The Chancellor’s announcement is an acknowledgement that causes can be complex and answers do not come easily - but there is concerted and urgent resolve, at all levels, to rid our streets of this scourge.”
Notes to editors
- Steve O’Connell, Chairman of the Police & Crime Committee is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Police & Crime Committee.
- 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 Giles Broadbent on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.