| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Arise Sir Sadiq! | |
| Posted by: | Jeremy Parkinson | |
| Date/Time: | 02/01/25 18:08:00 |
| That's one year's data whereas I was quoting figures for the whole of his three terms which is what he must be judged on. These actually show a much bigger increase (between 20 and 50% depending on when you chose to start and finish but, crucially these rises are below the average for metropolitan areas of the UK. As for him not wanting to talk about it - he made crime one of the central talking points of his last Mayoral campaign with a focus on both enforcement and prevention. The Met has been told to focus efforts on areas with a high knife crime rate (a one year rise in offences could be a sign of more effective enforcement as arrests for possession don't necessarily signify a victim). The Mayor has established the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) which invests in community programmes aimed at early intervention. For instance, a £1.4 million investment supports approximately 40 community projects that provide support and diversionary activities for nearly 25,000 young Londoners in high-crime areas. He has given an additional £8million to expand the my 'MyEnds' scheme to allow councils to develop community led strategies to tackle knife crime extending it to 19 boroughs. In May 2024, he announced a £14.5 million investment in schemes designed to reduce knife and gun crime across London. You might be able to make a case that these measures are ineffective but you can't say he isn't talking about the issue or trying to take steps to tackle it. |