Protecting young people from violence in London

Serious youth violence is a term that broadly refers to harm inflicted on young people by other young people, resulting in serious injury or death ^[1].

In the year to the end of July 2023, youth homicide in London increased by 36.8 per cent – with 26 murders compared to 19 in the previous year ^[2]. Meanwhile, knife crime with injury affecting young people under the age of 25 has increased by 7 per cent over the past year ^[3].

Serious youth violence can impact a young person’s development and make them more likely to be involved in the justice system in later life.

London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) highlights poverty, inequality, deprivation and lack of opportunity as some of the key drivers of violent crime. It focusses its approach on “prevention and early intervention at all ages and stages” to stop violence before it occurs.

The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss youth violence in London and the impact of the VRU’s initiatives on protecting young people. The guests are:

Part 1 – 10am to 11am

• Lib Peck, Director, London Violence Reduction Unit
• Representatives from VRU’s Young People’s Action Group

Part 2 – 11am to 12pm

• Sherry Peck, Chief Executive, Safer London
• Barrie Laslett, Chief Executive Officer, The Wickers Charity
• Geethika Jayatilaka, Chief Executive, Redthread
• George Hosking OBE, CEO and Scotland Director, WAVE Trust
• Stephen Barnabis, Director, Project Zero
• Connor Ellis, Opportunities Co-ordinator, Project Zero

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 20 September 2023 from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

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