London Crime Reduction Board's draft anti-gangs strategy

Our Police and Crime Committee sets out its response to the London Crime Reduction Board's draft Partnership Anti-Gangs Strategy.

The Committee is concerned that there is a growing gap between the speed and scale of enforcement activity and preventative programmes. It concluded that while action by the Metropolitan Police to ramp up arrests for gang related crimes is welcome, the benefits to communities will be short-term without prevention and diversion programmes to change young people’s behaviour in the long-term.

In particular the Committee urges the LCRB to focus on support for borough based partnerships designed to meet local needs. It also calls for greater emphasis on the unique role the voluntary and community sectors can play in developing meaningful engagement with those most at risk of becoming gang members or their victims.