The Met Police have removed more than a thousand young Londoners from a database for gang violence, according to the Mayor of London.
New figures reveal that there are now 1,933 individuals on the Met’s Gang Violence Matrix which is the lowest number since the database was set up in 2012 and nearly half the August 2017 peak of 3,881.
Following the latest annual review of the matrix by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), the Met has taken the decision for all those deemed to be low risk to be removed from the database, which was more than 1,200.
The data base was created in the aftermath of the 2011 riots and is used by the Met to identify those at risk of committing, or being a victim of, gang-related violence in London.
Sadiq Khan said: “The fact Black Londoners have less trust in the Met should concern us all.
“That is why the comprehensive overhaul of the Gang Violence Matrix is so important – increased scrutiny and transparency will help increase the degree of confidence all of London’s diverse communities can have in the Met.
“As a direct result of the police acting on the recommendations, the Matrix database is now more effective and more evidence-based than ever before.”
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley committed to a complete redesign of the matrix as part of his action plan to rebuild public confidence and trust in the Met.
Rowley said: “We know that young men and in particular young black men, continue to be over represented on the matrix.
“Sadly, there is a reality that levels of violent crime do disproportionally affect young Black men, however it is not appropriate that the matrix further amplifies this disproportionality.”
The Mayor ordered a wide-ranging review of the database in 2017 following concerns raised by the independent Lammy review, chaired by David Lammy, into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals in the Criminal Justice System.
The Commissioner added that he and the Met are committed to the complete redesign of the Gangs Violence Matrix.
He claims they will stay informed on further academic research, and will be engaging closely with community groups and partners on this in the next few months.
