Budget papers being presented to tomorrow’s meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority propose to suspend £6.6m growth budget for youth crime prevention and enforcement. The paragraph in the budget papers states that:
"Given the new pressures that are having to be managed within the budget now proposed, these initiatives will not now be progressed unless alternative funding sources can be identified during the year."
Jenny Jones said:
"Youth crime was the big priority of the London mayor when he was elected and it is therefore very worrying that some of his new initiatives are not being funded. Crime prevention is always better than cure, which is why we need the police to be engaging with young people in London to help divert them away from criminal activity."
"The Metropolitan Police have a huge budget and they could easily find £6m for the mayor’s initiatives if they cut down on the culture of over time within the police. The mayor should make clear that he wants the police to tackle youth crime, even if that means a few less officers, being paid over time, to police legitimate protests. I will continue to raise this issue with the mayor on the London Assembly.