Strategic Ambitions for London: Gangs & Serious Youth ViolenceMarie Snelling, Director IOM Programmes and Neighbourhoods, MOPAC

A little bit of history • LCRB DMG commissioned the first partnership anti-

gangs strategy in 2012, which launched in 2013 with an ambition to annually refresh. There were a number of key achievements under the first strategy:

• MOPAC and boroughs are sustainably funding 25 gangs projects through the London Crime Prevention Fund at a value of approximately £3m per year over the next four years.

• Introduction of a CPS gangs flag and dedicated borough prosecutors. • Development of a community impact statement and prison impact

statement for use in the secure estate.• CAMHS and YOT pilots in south and west London – integrating mental

health support into YOTS. • Girls and Gangs strategic framework published online. This aims to

support partners in improving the identification of and response to girls at risk.

Refreshing the Strategy

• To oversee the delivery of the strategy, a Gangs Panel was created in 2013, chaired by the DMPC.

• To inform the strategy refresh, MOPAC conducted a literature Review, online survey and held consultation with partners. Approximately 320 individuals or organisations responded.

• These informed the Strategic Ambitions for London: Gangs & Serious Youth Violence which was launched at an international Summit in June

Gangs in London• The Trident Matrix contains a total of 3,495

individual gang members, of 224 known gangs. • 70% of the individuals are aged between 17

and 23 years of age• A total of 93% had a previous sanction, such

as conviction, caution, warning or reprimand• 61% of gang members have been a victim of

any crime. • 23% of females and 4% of males identified

themselves as victims of sexual violence or exploitation within or by gangs (Office of the Children's Commissioner).

-33%

Inner London GA Flagged

Outer London GA Flagged

Inner London GA Flagged

Outer London GA Flagged

GA

Gang activity in London has changed

Strategic Ambitions for London: Gangs & Serious Youth Violence

• To reduce the harm caused by gangs the Strategic Ambitions set out an approach that focuses on

• 1. Prevention• 2. Intervention• 3. Enforcement

Underpinned by:• Leadership and Coordination• Performance and Governance

Next steps – Delivering the Strategic Ambitions & Measuring Success

• Since June, progress has been made in several key delivery strands including

• Securing £600,000 for specialist youth support in London's four Major Trauma Centres.

• £460,000 for mental health and safeguarding training provided to 8,000 professionals across London – including teachers, youth workers, police officers and health staff – so they can spot the signs of mental illness and emotional trauma among both gang members and vulnerable victims.

• London First and MOPAC businesses event – 11th September