Local Assembly Member stresses importance of
early intervention initiatives in speech
to local school governors
On Saturday (2nd November), local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, delivered a keynote speech on tackling youth violence as part of the annual Tower Hamlets School Governor’s Conference.
Speaking alongside the Chief Executive of the Institute of School Business Leaders, Stephen Morales, and Ofsted’s Regional Director for London, Mike Sheridan HMI, at Bow School, Mr Desai highlighted the range of measures being implemented by City Hall to address the causes of violent crime in the capital.
During his speech, Mr Desai focussed upon the positive impact of early intervention initiatives, highlighting Mayoral schemes such as the £45 million Young Londoners Fund targeted to divert the most vulnerable children away from crime.
He pledged the continue to hold the Mayor to account on the measures he is taking to clamp down on youth violence, against the backdrop of Government cuts to the Metropolitan Police budget, London’s schools and youth services.
Mr Desai progressed to reinforce the importance of maintaining a strong and constructive relationship between local police forces and schools across Tower Hamlets, citing City Hall’s plans to increase the number of dedicated schools officers in the capital to 550 by the end of the year.
He also discussed the work of City Hall’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), a public health approach model launched in the capital aimed at treating violence as a disease. Since its introduction in September 2018, the VRU has led to the investment of £1.4 million into community groups which focus on working with the most at-risk young people in London.
This week, the Mayor pledged a further £4.7 million of funding through the VRU directed at reducing school exclusions, improving after-school provision and providing support to pupils making the transition between primary and secondary school.
Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“Our education system plays a central role in efforts to tackle youth violence. Whilst having enough police on the streets is of course crucial, the widespread delivery of preventative and early intervention measures is equally as important.
“It was positive to be given the opportunity to deliver a keynote address to the Tower Hamlets School Governors Conference and outline the many initiatives being rolled out by City Hall to support local schools in clamping down on violent crime.
“As the local London Assembly Member, I will continue to monitor the impacts of Mayoral policies on levels of crime in East London. Following my speech, it was timely to see an extra £4.7 million pledged by City Hall to go towards reducing school exclusions and diverting the most vulnerable pupils away from gang exploitation”.
Notes to editors
- Photos of Unmesh Desai AM at the School Governors Conference can be found attached;
- More information about the range of initiatives being rolled out by City Hall to tackle youth violence in the capital, can be found here;
- Due to Government cuts, the Metropolitan Police has been forced to deliver over £1 billion in savings from its budget by 2021;
- The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) 2018/2019 Annual Report projects that the number of dedicated schools officers in the capital will increase to over 550 by the end of this year;
- This week, the Mayor announced an extra £4.7 million of funding through the VRU directed at reducing school exclusions, improving after-school provision and providing support to pupils making the transition between primary and secondary school;
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly Member for City and East (covering Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and the City of London).