Legal News

The Home Office has announced nearly £100,000 in new funding to tackle the issues around gang violence.

The government says the funding will allow the expansion of local area reviews and targeted support offered as part of the government’s on going commitment to Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation (EGVE).


Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability, Sarah Newton, said:

“Gang-related violence devastates lives – and I am pleased to announce further funding to tackle these appalling crimes.

“It’s often the young and most vulnerable in our society who become ensnared in gang activity, having been preyed upon by gang members.

“This government is determined to do all we can to protect them, by ending this cycle of exploitation and the crimes that inevitably go alongside it.”

The £99,000 funding for 2017-2018 was announced by the minister at a government forum held to bring partners – including from the police and key charities – together to tackle the issue of gangs.

The funding will enable a further 15 local area reviews to be conducted in regions experiencing gang-related issues, to assess their resilience and help address the issues they face.

Once the areas are selected, an expert team will help local authorities and their partners map gang problems in their area, review how effectively they deal with it – and make recommendations to help improve their response.

Local areas will also be able to benefit from tailored, follow on support to help them implement the suggested changes and do more to tackle the issue of gangs – this could include developing multi-agency action plans to tackle county lines, training and support, and help to develop relevant town and city centre safeguarding measures.

The funding will also support several regional strategic reviews to identify a common framework that the police, Police and Crime Commissioners and partners can agree, to effectively tackle the damage caused by county lines gangs.

This further funding follows a number of measures taken by the government to reduce gang activity, including an amendment to the Digital Economy Bill to significantly disrupt drugs gangs, by forcing communications providers to disconnect a mobile phone, SIM card or phone number where it can be proven they are being used in connection with drug offences.

The Home Office says this will also protect children and vulnerable people who are being exploited as couriers, moving drugs and money between suburban areas, market and coastal towns and their urban hub.

The government has also banned the sale of so-called zombie knives – and major retailers have signed up to a voluntary agreement to prevent the underage sale of knives.

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis can advise at any stage a charge involving violent crime, including gang crime, manslaughter, murder, attempted murder, robbery with violence, gun crime, knife crime, rape and ABH/GBH or assault.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a police station for interview under caution within an hour.

For expert legal advice on charges relating to violent crime, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.