Reducing violent crime

Low level criminality is everywhere and goes entirely unchallenged. Drug dealers operate in broad daylight, outside schools. If you try to report this, on the Met online portal, it is logged as ASB. Drug dealing is not ASB- it is an offence. They drive towards you at speed if you look at them they have the upper hand.

These are the same people who commit other crimes, but they believe they are untouchable, as they seem to be.

There have been multiple murders within a half mile radius of where I live in the last few years. It's the same young men driving around like bandits, clouds of skunk smoke enveloping them. The streets belong to them.

From what I understand, VRU intends to bring all the agencies together, which makes sense.  Providing more activities for young people, especially in deprived areas, is also very positive and they should be staffed by people they can relate to who have some experience of how they live.  Punishment is a short-term solution resulting in a sense of resentment towards society and doesn't provide a change of attitude towards violence.  I believe much violence is carried out by young people whose life experience is violence, often from caregivers.  Another area not mentioned and perhaps out of your remit, is pushing for legalisation of drugs, taking it out of the hands of criminals and thus being able to control its use and reduce all the associated street crime.  Finally, the constant cut in police numbers clearly exacerbates the situation on our streets.

when youth - all youth - have a hopeful future crime will reduce - but as is so often the case the future looks bleak - no chance of getting a flat/ a good wage  being able to afford to  live a normal life - meet friends , go out to eat, go to the movies etc  as a pensioner I can't afford the movies or to eat out etc I can handle it - (though its certainly not fun!) but for a teenager it must build up so much anger and frustration. not that this condones acts of violence but I can understand their feeling of  "nothing to lose" 

of course, youth will hang out on the street if there's nowhere to go - find other ways of making money if they can't get a job -and have a sense of hopelessness if they cant. 

has anyone looked at when youth crime happens ? is it holidays and half terms - when youth are so bored that they'll be "looking for trouble " and by that I mean looking for a challenge - something / anything  and it can so easily get out of hand - if you've got nothing you've got nothing to lose

 schools could be doing so much more if only they were funded appropriately - car mechanics, forest school survival skills, mountain climbing, things that challenge and excite kids should be on the curriculum - the focus on academic subjects is ridiculous.

- youth are meant to be rebellious ! its part of learning - teddy boys, beatniks, hippies, punks, rockers etc every era has had rebellious youth - 

that wonderful youthful energy that I remember from my youth when I really felt I had the power to change the world, has to be given back to our youth today. self-esteem and hope for the future don't come easily if you are seen as a failure with no future.

despite all this I have to say as an older retired woman often needing help with bags etc when traveling around London it is always youth who help 

I feel what is being put in place is not strong enough, I feel it’s gone to far and is now a monumental challenge to combat the current Crime rates. This should of been on the table at least last year ago. I would like to see police given extra powers, and for the culprits when in court are given a penalty, which will make them think. Within the community many muggings don’t get reported or are just brushed aside due to staff shortages , and I am gonna guess lots of paperwork. 

Violent crime in London is committed by males in the majority of cases. Male violence is an epidemic that does not just root in poverty and lack of opportunities. Hard punishments and education from early school age would be required to reduce violent crime in my opinion.

They don't fear consequences for their actions as they know they're unlikely to be caught, and if they're under 18 all they seem to get is a slap on the wrist. It starts with low level crime like vandalism and noise, the police aren't interested so they push it further and further. We constantly report antisocial behaviour and gangs of youths congregating in our road particularly at night, but nothing is ever done, all I've ever had was a follow up call several days later asking if I have the registration of any of the cars involved.Poverty, mental health and lack of opportunity are excuses - the vast majority of people with these issues are not involved in crime

Would the Mayor please publish how he intends to engage with communities in the construction of a London VRU?

A PS to my previous comments. Governments and councils love setting up enquiries or taskforces because they can give an impression of doing something while they wait for the public's attention to move elsewhere. If the Mayor wishes to know how to tackle violent crime, how about directing resources to front line policing. If the Government places restrictions on his ability to do that then advertise that fact.

Support from the public is vital to policing.How can this support be maintained when the police have been effectively withdrawn from the streets? Even the CSOs have been removed. Following the tragic death of Ian Tomlin a member of the Met hierachy was quoted as saying he didn't believe the Met had lost control of the streets. The streets cannot be controlled remotely; you have to be on them. In the last couple of weeks I have several times experienced what felt very much like displays of strength by local gangs. I have little doubt that they would assert thier control of the area.

Mr Tomlin( the type of person we need more of in our communities) apparently made many attempts to inform the police and council in Battersea about the problems his community faced. He received no support and was murdered. It is hard not to feel that the Met and his local council have some of his blood on their hands.

Mayor Giulani cleaned up NY crime drastically. and at the time it was much worse than London. Nowdays London police is made powerless and is under-resourced . Criminal gangs are operating knowing they are likely to get away with murder.. We need zero tolerance and harder sentencing. Police often told me they arrest thieves , burglars , gangs of thieving  beggars etc, and even if they appear at court they are almost always released . 

I think the aspirations for the unit are good, and believe tackling causes of violent crime is complimentary to more traditional police work. However without knowing how this taskforce will tackle poverty, mental ill-health, etc, it's hard to give an opinion. If it has worked well elsewhere it would be good to see some case studies.

The Police need more funding to do their job.  Criminals know they can get away with all sorts of violent crime because the Police can't cope and don't have the time.  It is getting worse, it's very scary and needs to be improved immediately before more people are hurt or killed.  Simple.

Detection and conviction rates must be improved too deter crime. More education effort in schools to change behaviour

instead of police investigating snowflake crimes and made up hate crimes, they should get out and patrol every street regulaly

I have reported drug dealing outside my house nearly 100 times since moving in 4 years ago.  Nothing has changed in that time.  I'm at my wits end.  Last Saturday 5 men were snorting coke directly outside my house.

There may well be a shortage of police on the streets but when they do catch a criminal and it goes to court, in many cases just a slap on the wrist. Sentences must be stronger from judges, we are too soft. 

The Mayors Office is being lead astray by Ward Policing.Majority of Wards DO NOT have the correct number of officers ,which should be 2pcs &a Pcso .Officers are also taken from there Wards .The Mayors office should do a Audit in person and not by a list of names on paper . If you had more officers out and about this would help reduce crime .

The only way to stop moped crime is by Police / Courts removing licences for all fast food "deliveries". Get the riders fully vetted, and set a complete stop to this silly 'gig' 'economy': Gig economy = cheap slave (Zero hour contract) labour! = low pay = willingness to make 'extra special' deliveries. Often on probably road illegal mopeds with noisy exhausts and riding at breakneck speed.  Give the successfully vetted riders 50cc mopeds at most.

Law must be changed to make it mandatory for 'L'plated scooter to be 50cc or less and speed limited to 20 mph. Police must enforce noise created by unroadworthy ('aftermarket') exhausts to all vehicles in Greater London and vehcles found to be fitted with illegal exhausts should be compounded immediately. Driving offences in the Netherlands are very harshly dealt with; why not here?