The number of young people admitted to London hospitals after knife attacks has plunged by 55 per cent since Mayor Sadiq Khan launched his Violence Reduction Unit.
Hospital admissions for knife assaults among youngsters have more than halved, with London recording a faster fall than the rest of England, according to City Hall figures.
There has been nearly 12,500 fewer victims of violence causing injury since the unit was set up in 2019.
However there were still almost 14,000 knife-enabled crimes logged by the Metropolitan Police in the 12 month to the end of March 2026, with about a quarter resulting in an injury.
On Friday, Lord Khan said his scheme had now reached a major milestone, helping one million Londoners through its work to tackle violence among young people in the capital.
“I set up the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) just over seven years ago because of a clear and long-held view that we cannot arrest our way out of violence," he said.
“Violent crime is preventable, not inevitable, As we hit the milestone of one million people through the VRU, we are able to demonstrate that a public health approach to tackling violence and exploitation works.
“Hospital admissions of young people for knife assault are down by more than half, and there are thousands of fewer victims of violence and gun crime, but I’m clear there is more to do to reduce violence and exploitation.
“Our investment has not only provided interventions and positive opportunities; it has also delivered support and training for thousands of youth workers, mentors and school staff that work with young people across our city.”
Mayor Sadiq Khan and Violence Reduction Unit director Lib Peck
PA
There were 2,500 fewer knife crime victims over the past three years, with offences down a further 10 per cent in the latest 12-month period, City Hall said.
Lord Khan launched the capital's first Violence Reduction Unit in England and Wales seven years ago, investing more than £140million in efforts to prevent young people becoming involved in violence.
The scheme focuses on early intervention, youth support and giving vulnerable youngsters alternatives to crime.
About 750,000 young people have benefited from its work, alongside 250,000 parents, carers, youth workers and professionals who have received training and support.
Martin Griffiths, consultant trauma surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust and Clinical Director of the Violence Reduction Network for the NHS in London, said: “A 55 per cent fall in young people admitted to hospital for knife assault is welcome news. Every one of those injuries is a tragedy however, but behind this fall are young Londoners who are safer and families spared the worst day of their lives."
Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, said: “Reaching one million Londoners is testament to the power of partnership and our city-wide commitment to the view that violence is preventable, not inevitable.
“Our prevention and early intervention approach is built around catching young people at points of crisis or vulnerability and giving them the support they need towards safety and opportunity.
"The figures show progress through prevention with fewer young people in hospital and declining violence and knife crime. History shows what happens when you cut the very services working to prevent violence and so it’s crucial that we keep the momentum up so that every young person in London is safe and supported to thrive.”