Violent crime in the borough is three times the national average.
By Nick Bieber and David Eggboro
Lambeth is the second most violent local authority in the UK according to a study by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
The UK Peace Index shows peace (absence of violence or the fear of violence) is linked to deprivation of income, employment, health, access to services and living environment.
Violent crime in the borough is three times the national average at almost 2,300 incidents per 100,000 people in 2012, and 30% of Lambeth households earn below 60% of the average income.
Lambeth Council leader, Cllr Lib Peck, said: “We are aware that too many people in the borough still face poverty, unemployment and suffer a sense of being cut off from opportunity.”
‘More Jobs’, ‘100 More Police’ and ‘Cleaner and Greener Streets’ are three campaigns the council are running in order to help Lambeth climb the rankings.
More police may reassure residents although no significant relationship was established between police numbers and violent crime.
Cllr Peck said: “Our More Jobs campaign for example is working to tackle unemployment and to ensure that everyone has access to high quality apprenticeships.”
She explained the planned regeneration of Vauxhall Nine Elms and Waterloo will create a jobs bonanza over the next decade.
The ‘More Jobs’ campaign aims to ensure Lambeth residents can make the most of the borough’s employment opportunities.
The report, measuring peace in the UK from 2003 to 2013, indicated national homicide, violent crime and weapons crime rates are falling.
London is the least peaceful region in England but has lower murder rates than Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin.
Stop and search figures in the capital are the highest in the UK with Black British disproportionately accounting for 30% of stops but only 10% of the population.
The impact of violence and crime on the UK purse is estimated to be £124bn per year, or an average £4,700 per household.
The study indicates a crime reduction of 9% would amount to the total cost of the London Olympics.
You can access the findings at http://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/UK-Peace-Index-2013-IEP-Report.pdf
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