Serious Group Violence Mentoring Services

The London Borough of Havering has a need for mentoring services for young people aged 11-25 at risk of gang affiliation, vulnerable to gang exploitation without necessarily being involved in criminal activity. Havering continues to experience increasing levels of gang activity and it is expected to increase due to projected demographic changes. Violence against the person equates to 32% of all crime committed in Borough. The Councils aim is to move towards a more preventative approach across under 18s and to better support young people during transition to adulthood. The mentoring service will provide support to young people aged 11-25 at risk of gang affiliation, vulnerable to gang exploitation without necessarily being involved in criminal activity. Our vulnerable cohort identified is: regularly missing, arrested not resulting in conviction but are open to Early Help/ YJ/ Probation Services, excluded from education, linked to gangs, emerging groups, and county lines, weapon carriers, engaged in violence. We aim to reduce risk and vulnerability among the cohort, by increased ETE, engagement, prevented escalation to conviction, reduction in volume and severity of criminal behaviour.