London Violence Reduction Unit invests £140m in preventative crime measures

London cannot solely rely on arrests to combat high levels of violent crime and must maintain its focus on preventative strategies, according to Lib Peck, Director of the Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). The unit, established in 2019, has invested over £140 million in its initiatives.

Peck stated that in the early years of Mayor Sadiq Khan's tenure, there was significant public concern regarding the prevalence of violence. She explained that the VRU adopted a model inspired by Scotland's "public health approach," which began in 2005, focusing on targeted community work to reduce long-term criminality rather than solely relying on enforcement measures like mass arrests, stop and search, and surveillance.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Peck recalled the strong calls for increased policing and enforcement. "There was also a real understandable concern from Londoners about what we were going to do about high levels of violence," she said. "He recognised that while enforcement is an important part of reducing violence, you can’t arrest your way out of this. We need to develop and invest in a preventative approach, working with a whole range of partners across London and working out where to invest money."

Reaching Young Londoners

The VRU's investment has facilitated specialised interventions across the city. To date, 750,000 young people have participated in diversionary activities such as music and sports. Additionally, 250,000 parents, carers, youth workers, and other professionals have received dedicated training to support young people.

The unit aims to intervene at critical junctures in young Londoners' lives. City Hall reports that hospital-based youth workers have successfully diverted 75 per cent of young individuals away from further harm. Youth workers in custody suites have engaged with nearly 17,000 young people to help break cycles of reoffending. The MyEnds programme, a key initiative, has delivered 60,000 targeted interventions directly within communities.

Evidence of Impact

Officials report a significant decrease in violence, with nearly 12,500 fewer victims of violence with injury since the VRU's inception. Gun crime and personal robbery have each fallen by more than a quarter, and knife crime is noted to be on a downward trend. Peck highlighted that the VRU initially concentrated its efforts on the one per cent of London's geographic area that accounted for 70 per cent of violent incidents.

She described the strategy as being highly targeted towards communities experiencing poverty, discrimination, and deprivation, which have historically contributed to intergenerational violence. "We’ve done this by working closely with people who see the consequences of violence every day on the front line, youth workers, teachers, parents," Peck stated. "And that is key because it’s the relationships in a young person’s life that very often make the difference."

While acknowledging that preventative approaches may not always show immediate results, Peck expressed confidence in the VRU's long-term strategy and its potential for continued support across political administrations. She suggested that evidence has been instrumental in winning over critics who advocate for increased police funding. "There will always be new challenges, but prevention is an absolutely key element of working with young people and making London safer," she said.

Addressing Online Dangers

The VRU is also addressing new challenges posed by social media, including disinformation and online disagreements escalating into real-world violence. The unit is investing in "online bystander" programmes to help young people recognise and diffuse tension, with similar training extended to youth workers who may not be as digitally proficient. Peck noted this as an ongoing challenge requiring close collaboration with young people.