The Mayor of London has promised to write to all hospitals across London to ensure that anonymous data about violent incidents is shared with the police to ensure there is effective action to tackle knife and other violent crime hot spots, following questioning by Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group.
The Mayor has also agreed, if it is necessary, to call a summit at City Hall to ensure that the full adoption of the crime prevention model.
The adoption of the successful ‘Cardiff Model’ has been a long standing pledge by the Mayor of London, but at City Hall today the Mayor finally admitted that its implementation has been very patchy across London.
Explaining why the adoption of the Cardiff Model is so important, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The Cardiff Model is proven to be highly effective in tackling violent crime, with research showing that it can lead to a reduction in woundings by 42%, ,so it is appalling that it is not being fully implemented. There is powerful evidence that when accident and emergency departments share anonymous data on violent crimes it has a dramatic impact in the reduction in violent offences in any community.
“When London is currently experiencing a growth in violent offences it is vital that the Mayor ensures that this simple but effective way to tackle crime is adopted in every part of the capital.
“The time for excuses by the Mayor of London is long over. After years of excuses I welcome his admission that real steps now need to be taken to implement this much needed policy to tackle violent crime.”