New funding to tackle serious youth violence "will help make Coventry safer"
17 March 2010
Jim Cunningham MP today welcomed a multi-million pound government investment in tackling serious youth violence, saying it would "help make Coventry an even safer place to live and work" for local people.
Under plans announced today, the Tackling Knives and Serious Youth Violence Action Programme (TKAP) will be extended for another year, with more than £5 million pledged to tackle serious youth violence from April 2010.
Labour's Jim Cunningham MP said:
"I'm delighted that Coventry will be getting this funding boost to tackle serious youth violence amongst young people. TKAP works by bringing together tough enforcement, education and prevention.
"Today's announcement is further evidence of Labour's determination to use every tool available to cut crime and make communities across Coventry safer still."
"Labour will stand up for the many by ensuring the police are on the beat in our communities. We will protect funding for frontline policing and ensure there is a Neighbourhood Policing Team in every area committed to spending at least 80 per cent of its time on the beat. The Conservatives would threaten the safety of our streets by refusing to match our commitment to frontline policing which has seen crime fall by over a third."
Labour's home office minister David Hanson said:
"The £5 million announced today will be a major contribution to tackling knife crime and serious youth violence.
"We have made encouraging progress since we launched the programme. Between April and September 2009 we saw murder using a knife fall by 34 per cent, compared to the same period the previous year.
"This is the result of the hard work, dedication and focussed action by police and partner agencies across the country.
"We remain absolutely committed to tackling this complex issue so I am pleased to be announcing today that we will be continuing the TKAP programme for another year. By working together we will help to clamp down on the small minority of people who commit these crimes and help make our towns and communities safer."
The third phase of the programme will build on previous successes in reducing serious violence and will operate in 52 areas, who have voluntarily signed up, to undertake targeted action to reduce serious youth violence among 13 to 24 year olds.
