Mayor: Cost of living crisis leading to increase in crime in Capital
Sadiq Khan's making a speech in south London on Thursday.
The cost of living crisis has led to an increase in crime in London.
That's according to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who is delivering a landmark speech in south London on Thursday, calling for a national strategy to tackle the complex causes of crime, greater investment in our justice system, and stronger support for victims.
It comes as a new London School of Economics (LSE) report shows a direct link between a 10 per cent rise in the cost of living and significant increases in violence, robberies, shoplifting, burglary and theft over the past year.
The report claims - when the cost-of-living went up by 10%, crime went up by 8% per cent.
Sadiq will also announce £15.6million funding for new £15m Violence and Exploitation Support Service to protect, safeguard and rescue young people caught up in violent crime including gangs and county lines. This exploitation has been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.
New figures show the Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit has successfully invested in over 350,000 interventions and opportunities to divert young people away from violence.
The Mayor will today be joined by community leaders from the Violence Reduction Unit's MyEnds programme, who will speak about its community-led approach to tackling the drivers of violence, which has supported more than 54,000 young people.
In the speech, which will be delivered to local community representatives, youth leaders and stakeholders, the Mayor is expected to say:
Government austerity is jeopardising progress made tackling crime and violence in London