Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit Reaches One Million Londoners as Knife Assault Admissions Fall 55%

London's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has this month reached the milestone of one million Londoners since its launch in 2019. That figure comprises three-quarters of a million young people who received interventions, diversionary activities and opportunities, plus a further 250,000 parents, carers, youth workers and professionals who received dedicated training and support.

Mayor Sadiq Khan, who established the VRU in 2019 as the first such unit in England and Wales, has invested more than £140 million in its public health approach. New data shows hospital admissions of young people for knife assault have fallen 55 per cent since the VRU was set up — a faster decline than the rest of the country. There are also nearly 12,500 fewer victims of violence with injury compared to when the VRU launched, and knife crime victims fell by 2,500 over the last three years, including a 10 per cent drop in the most recent 12 months. Gun crime and personal robbery are each down by more than a quarter.

Key programmes include hospital-based youth workers, who have guided 75 per cent of those they support away from further harm, and custody suite youth workers, who have connected with nearly 17,000 young people. The flagship MyEnds initiative has delivered 60,000 targeted interventions in the communities that need them most.

Khan called on the Government to match his long-term funding commitment, saying consistent multi-year backing is essential to achieving the shared ambition of halving knife crime. VRU Director Lib Peck said the figures demonstrate "progress through prevention," while Khan stated: "Violent crime is preventable, not inevitable."