Labour’s taken huge steps to cut gang violence in Lambeth.  In 2006 the Lib Dems and Tories left Lambeth with the worst-funded youth service and the highest levels of youth crime in London.  Since then, when Labour was elected to run the council, we’ve tackled the problem head on.  We’ve doubled spending on youth services so there’s more things for young people to do while they develop new skills.  We also conducted the biggest piece of research in the country into why some young people join gangs and use knives and guns, then built an action plan to cut violent youth crime based on the findings. 

One of the projects we’re funding is called 2XL.  It’s a peer mentoring programme that gets young people out of gangs and puts their lives back on track, helping them develop positive interests and skills that lead them back into education, training, work or even to set up their own businesses.  We’ve developed it from the successful X-it project that cut re-offending by young offenders on Brixton’s Moorlands Estate by 72%.  That made it the most successful project of its kind in the country, winning national awards and praise from the Home Secretary. 

Today I was excited to be present at the launch of 2XL across Lambeth.   At the event in the Pyramid Youth Centre in Clapham, I quoted from the Daily Mirror’s report on the project that called the new scheme “a glimmer of hope in the fight against gang crime”.  You can read the Mirror’s report by clicking here. 

The new expanded scheme will help even more young offenders turn away from crime.  Instead of being left on the crime escalator, starting off with low-level offending and gradually getting involved in worse and worse criminal activities, they are given real alternatives instead.  The project, working with voluntary group the Brathay Trust,  matches them up with older young people who act as their mentors and steer them into activities like sports, web design or dance where they can spend their time doing something positive.  One former young offender at the launch event, Solomon, spoke about how he’d stopped offending, got away from gang culture,  and was now at university and setting up his own business.  

Lambeth’s very impressive Youth Mayor, Samuel Manley, spoke movingly about the need to give young people a chance to succeed.  “What young people need” he said “is an arm around their shoulder from someone who cares enough to guide them away from trouble.”  Samuel captured the mood and the purpose of the whole event.  This is Labour in Lambeth making a real difference to our young people and showing that we really can tackle gang culture, cut crime, and give vulnerable youngsters back the future they deserve.

You can read about Lambeth’s new helpline for parents worried their child may be involved in a gang by clicking here.  Or visit the new website showing all the activities Labour's made available for young people in Lambeth by clicking here. 

At the 2XL launch event: Cllr Steve Reed (left), Cllr Rachel Heywood, Youth Mayor Samuel Manley (wearing badge), Solomon Smith, Cllr Florence Nosegbe, Police Chief Inspector Jon Kirkpatrick