PCD 1294 Extension of London Gang Exit, Rescue and Response, and Empower 2023/24

PCD 1294 Extension of London Gang Exit, Rescue and Response, and Empower 2023/24

Reducing and preventing violence, and protecting people from being exploited or harmed are key priorities in the Police and Crime Plan 2022-25. There is a commitment to continue to invest in the provision of support for young people impacted by violence - including those seen to be offenders but have also often experienced victimisation or been exploited - to reduce the risk of violence to both themselves and others. 

This Decision requests the extension of funding to 31 March 2024, and with the further potential to extend to 30 September 2024, for the following projects and services to ensure young Londoners continue to have access to specialist support needed to help them cope and recover from crime or trauma and/or reduce risk of victimisation and exploitation: 

• London Gang Exit (LGE) – Supports young people to escape the harmful effects of gangs. 

• Rescue and Response – Supports young Londoners exploited through county lines activity. 

• Empower – Supports young people suffering sexual exploitation in the context of gangs. 

The total financial commitment for 2023/24 will be £4,251,689, with potential to extend by another £2,125,845 in 2024/25. 

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the extension of funding until 31 March 2024 of London Gang Exit, Rescue and Response, and Empower, at a total financial commitment of £4,251,689, with potential to extend by another £2,125,845 in 2024/25. There is financial provision within the core budget to meet these costs. 

2. Delegate responsibility for agreeing the specific terms and amounts relating to the extension of individual grants extensions to the MOPAC Director or Commissioning and Partnerships, in consultation with the MOPAC Chief Financial Officer and Director of Corporate Services. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background 

1. Reducing and preventing violence, and protecting people from being exploited or harmed are key priorities in the Police and Crime Plan 2022-25. There is a commitment to continue to invest in the provision of support for young people impacted by violence - including those seen to be offenders but have also often experienced victimisation or been exploited - to reduce the risk of violence to both themselves and others.  

2. This includes specialist support to young victims of violence requiring hospital treatment; young victims of crime linked to gangs; and protecting young people from exploitation by criminal groups. Improving the gender responsive approach to address the often less-visible needs of young women and girls will be a key component of this work, ensuring that women and girls impacted by violence and gang association are better identified and supported. 

3. MOPAC commissioned a problem profile into youth and group violence to ensure that the current partnership response evolves to meet the needs of young people. The findings of the problem profile, along with evaluations of London Gang Exit and Rescue and Response, will drive future investment and commissioning. 

4. The funding outlined in this Decision will enable the continuation of three key projects and services which are working to keep children and young people safe, while this broader commissioning work is undertaken. 

2. Issues for consideration 

1. The three projects for which funding is recommended for extension all continue to deliver well against their objectives, as outlined below. 

2. However, following publication of the problem profile into youth and group violence, there is a need to undertake new commissioning work to ensure that the future partnership response and associated services continue to meet the needs of young people. In order for this work to be undertaken and a smooth transition to any new arrangements to be enabled, without a gap in this vital service provision, funding for these projects is recommended to be extended until 31 March 2024, with the potential to extend further to 30 September 2024, if required. 

3. London Gang Exit 

London Gang Exit (LGE) provides a holistic approach to supporting young people to escape the harmful effects of gangs, both those who are gang-involved and others who may be exploited by them. Most interventions last six to 12 months, over which time emotional and motivational factors will be addressed, as well aspects which provide stability for a young person; education, employment, and accommodation. Since launch, the programme has received over 2000 referral enquires and over 900 children and young people have been referred onto the programme. There was a significant decrease in violent offending for those on the programme, with 37.4% committing a violent offence in the 24 months prior to intervention start, compared to 28.7% in the 24 months after the start date. This service is delivered by Safer London via a grant. 

4. Rescue and Response 

Rescue and Response is a pan-London service to support children and young people who have been exploited by county line drug networks. Intelligence is gathered and analysed to understand the factors behind exploitation, to inform policing and safeguarding, and to upskill professionals on the signs of exploitation so that interventions can be made at an earlier stage. In the four years of operating, the service has seen 85% of referrals receive positive outcomes, and a 89% reduction in county lines activity. These services are delivered by London borough of Brent, St Giles Trust, Abianda, Safer London and Empowering Communities via grants. 

5. Empower 

Empower primarily supports girls and young women who are involved in or at risk of gang involvement, or sexual violence and exploitation. Empower focuses delivery across 16 London boroughs. The programme provides specialist one-to-one support and advocacy that enables young people to access health and wellbeing, employment and training, housing, family, and relationship support. Between April 2021 and March 2022, Empower has delivered interventions to 97 young people on a one-to-one basis. In addition, the service has delivered one-to-one support for 18 families, 55 group work sessions, and provided consultancy advice to 170 professionals. 93% of completed cases reported an improved feeling of safety. This service is delivered by Safer London via a grant. 

3. Financial Comments 

1. This Decision requests approval for the extension of funding to the grants detailed in sections 2.3 to 2.5, from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2024, with the potential to further extend the delivery period until 30 September 2024. 

2. The total budget requirement for this work is £6,377,534, and costs will be met from the core budget. Budget provision to fund the contracts is included in the 2022/23 – 2024/25 MOPAC Medium Term Financial Plan. 

3. Budget allocations to each project are set out below: 

4. Legal Comments 

1. MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the Metropolitan Police Service and secure that the Metropolitan Police Service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 (1) MOPAC has wide incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements. 

2. Section 143 (1) (b) of the Anti-Social, Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides for MOPAC to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to victims or witnesses of or other persons affected by, offences and anti-social behaviour.” Section 143 (3) specifically allows MOPAC to make grants in connection with such arrangements and any grant may be made subject to any conditions that MOPAC thinks appropriate.  

3. There are further relevant powers set out in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at sections 17(1) (a) to (c) which place MOPAC under a duty to exercise its functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all it can to prevent, crime and disorder (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment), reoffending in its area, and the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances in its area. The proposed arrangements are consistent with MOPAC’s duties in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. 

4. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 or above. 

5. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all offers for grant funding. 

6. The delegation of responsibility for the finalisation of planning and grant arrangements, including relevant terms and the signing of agreements, to the Chief Finance Officer is in accordance with the general power of delegation in paragraph 1.7 of the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation. 

7. Officers must ensure the Financial Regulations and Contract Regulations are complied with. 

8. Officers should ensure that the funding agreements are put in place with and executed by MOPAC and each of the providers before any commitment to fund is made. 

9. Officers confirm that sufficient assurance has been carried out to this Decision to determine that the DMPC has legal authority to agree the recommendations on funding and the extension of grants and contracts.  

5. Commercial Issues 

1. This Decision requests to extend existing Grant Agreements as set out in 2.3 to 2.5. 

2. MOPAC makes no commitment to provide additional funding to the organisations listed in 2.3 to 2.5 above until Grant Modification Letters have been signed by both Parties. These will detail the new performance, monitoring, reporting and payment schedules, in line with previous arrangements. 

3. The processing of the modifications to each respective Grant Agreement will comply with the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation and the Contract Regulations. 

6. Public Health Approach 

1. The public health approach led by the Violence Reduction Unit looks at violence as a preventable consequence of a range of factors, such as adverse early-life experiences, or harmful social or community experiences and influences. It includes contextual safeguarding and all factors which could cause harm to a vulnerable child or adult or push them towards violence and exploitation. 

2. The services included in this decision support children and young people who are at risk of violence and exploitation, through focusing on early identification and intervention, providing stability, advocacy and access to health and wellbeing. Contextual safeguarding practice is embedded in the delivery of these three projects. 

7. GDPR and Data Privacy 

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

2. The extension of the projects and services listed in 2.3 to 2.5 will not alter the data protection measures in place for each. 

8. Equality Comments  

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

2. This decision supports initiatives and interventions for young victims, but particularly those victims of more serious crimes, vulnerable and repeat victims, and particular sections of the community who are over-represented amongst victims of crime. 

3. Violence, exploitation and related criminality involving children and young people are areas of continuing concern, both nationally and in London – particularly in the context of groups and gangs.  

4. Whilst well documented rises in violent crime since 2014 appear to be stabilising – especially for the most serious weapon enabled offences – such criminality remains a significant problem in London, and one that disproportionately impacts specific areas and groups, notably young people in areas of high deprivation.  

5. The recent Problem Profile of Violence, Gangs And Young People found disproportionality across violent crime. Half of weapon enabled robbery suspects (50%) and nearly half (46%) of homicide suspects were Black. Victim profiles are more diverse (42% of weapon enabled robbery victims were white) but the majority of youth homicide victims are male (93%) and Black (60%). 

6. Youth homicide has increased with 23% of homicides having teen victims. Those in their late teens are more likely to be the victims of violence with those 18yrs of age most likely to be victimised for both homicides and overall violence.​ Teenage violence is largely a peer on peer offence, with 77% of the accused also being teenagers.  

7. The services listed in 2.3 to 2.5 all seek to address the issues raised by the Problem Profile. Youth workers delivering these services are trained and experienced at providing trauma informed support to young people with complex needs.  

8. The providers listed in 2.3 to 2.5 will be required to have due regard to the protected characteristics of the people and communities relevant to this piece of work. 

9. Diversity monitoring is an integral part of quarterly performance management processes for MOPAC commissioned services. This monitoring helps us to understand who is accessing each service and how any barriers to accessing may be overcome.  

9. Background/supporting papers 

1. PCD 1066, signed in November 2021, approved one year funding and extension of Rescue and Response, Empower and London Gang Exit.  

2. Interim evaluation of London Gang Exit 

3. Rescue and Response Strategic Assessment