Steve Reed MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Office Minister, said:

“The Government risks looking very complacent on gang crime. Their own report is clear that any fall in overall statistics could not be attributed to their programme.

"I know from my time leading a council in South London that tackling violent gangs is a far more complex issue than the Government claims.  In many urban areas, including Croydon, street robberies are continuing to rise.

"People living in many communities affected by violent gangs remain fearful for their children’s future as ill-judged Government funding cuts mean many initiatives that successfully get young people out of gangs are struggling to survive.

"We need to do more to tackle gang crime, including giving communities more support to develop their own interventions to get young people out of gangs and steer their lives back on track.”