As lockdown restrictions were relaxed in 2020, violent crime offences rose in London. In April 2020, there were 15,439 violent offences reported compared to 20,595 offences in August 2020.
Earlier this month, there were five stabbings reported in just over three hours in south London, leaving one man dead and nine people injured.
With the Prime Minister publishing his plans to reopen society in the coming weeks, how is the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), the Met and Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) working together to stop violent crime rising once COVID restrictions are eased?
Tomorrow, the Police & Crime Committee will question the Met Police, the VRU and MOPAC on action being taken to reduce violence across London.
Other topics to be discussed include:
- COVID policing
- Stop and search
- Healthcare in custody
- Online harm
- Lost data
- Car crime – catalytic converter theft
The guests are:
- Cressida Dick DBE QPM, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
- Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
- Lib Peck, Director, VRU
- Karina Wane, Assistant Director, VRU
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 24 February from 10 AM. In line with government advice, this meeting will take place virtually.
Media and members of the public can watch the meeting live here.
Notes to editors
- Full agenda papers.
- Unmesh Desai AM, Chair 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 more details, please contact Aoife Nolan in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303 897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.