Harrow is to be one of nine new areas across England to be part of a new Home Office Ending Gangs and Youth Violence programme.
The new programme will mean that Metropolitan Police will be able to identify how to address local challenges and the right measures to tackle gang violence.
According to the Home Office, the programme has already helped 43 areas in England with tailored support and advice from specialists with frontline experience dealing with gang and youth-related violence.
Harrow is receiving support from experts to better understand the nature of its local challenges, identify opportunities to work collaboratively and share effective ways of tackling them.
Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation Karen Bradley said: “Gang and youth violence has a devastating impact on young people, their families and local communities.
“That’s why today we are providing more targeted support for areas including Harrow, which will allow the Metropolitan Police and authorities to identify how best to address local challenges and identify the right measures to tackle gang-related violence and exploitation.
“Our new policy; Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation, sets out the government’s six key priorities to deal with what drives violence and abuse by gangs and shows the government’s continued determination to tackle this problem.
“We want to work with Londoners to make this a success. By expanding our successful ongoing programme we are sending a clear message to anyone involved in gang and youth violence: we are empowering the community to stop you.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead on gangs, Chief Constable Dave Thompson, said: “The Ending Gangs and Youth Violence programme has helped to increase the amount of joint work taking place at local level to tackle gangs and gang-related crime.
“The new policy places greater emphasis on vulnerable groups including young people. It is positive to see a continuing focus on women and girls.”
