New Fund To Tackle Gang Crime

The Home Office is to commit £18m of funding to support police, local agencies and the voluntary sector to tackle knife, gun and gang-related violence.

The new fund will also aim to prevent young people entering a cycle of crime.

The move follows a report from ex-EastEnders star Brooke Kinsella, whose brother Ben was stabbed to death in 2008.

Ms Kinsella, 27, has worked as a campaigner on the issue calling for anti-knife crime projects in schools.

The scheme, aimed at young people, dealt with the "fear and fashion" factor of knives.

The funding, for 2011-2013, will support enforcement and prevention work by police in three knife crime hotspot areas and will sit alongside positive activities for young people and local work to bring about long-term changes in attitudes and behaviours.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "Brooke Kinsella has done a great job in highlighting what works and what could work better in trying to achieve that.

"Off the back of Brooke's recommendations, we will invest money into changing attitudes and behaviour, alongside being tough on those who persist in being involved in senseless crimes."

She added: "I really believe the problem of knife crime has escalated in the past few years, and the impact it has on communities and families is devastating."

The funding will run from April 2011 to March 2013, when police and crime commissioners will be in place.

Almost £4m will go to the three police force areas with the biggest knife crime problem - London, Manchester and the West Midlands.

(BMcN/GK)