Mayor joins with football clubs to tackle violence

Sir Sadiq Khan said the partnership would "divert young people to positive, constructive things, rather than violence and gangs"

The mayor of London's violence reduction unit (VRU) is to partner with all 16 of the capital's professional football clubs to tackle youth violence.

Sir Sadiq Khan announced the partnership with London United, representing the community foundations of London's football teams, at Wembley Stadium.

The VRU will invest £6m in measures such as after-school clubs and events during school holidays, run by football clubs. Sir Sadiq said this would "divert young people to positive, constructive things, rather than violence and gangs".

This comes as London's homicide rate so far this year fell to its lowest level since records began in 2003.

Former professional footballer Marcus Gayle said there was a common goal to keep young people safe

According to the Keeping Young Londoners Safe report, released by London United, the capital's club trusts delivered 100 projects across 31 boroughs in 2023/24, supporting more than 30,000 young people.

The new partnership with the VRU aims to further support that work, with the MyEnds and Stronger Futures programmes receiving a funding boost of £3.6m and £2.4m respectively.

This will fund support for parents and young people, as well as after-school and school holiday sport and arts activities.

'The power of football'

Former professional footballer Marcus Gayle, who now serves as a club ambassador for Brentford, said at the launch of the partnership he had experienced growing up in London, so "understands about the lack of opportunities" and how sport can make a difference.

He said: "We are rivals on the pitch but off it, we've got a common goal to help keep young people safe and create opportunities for them."

Sir Sadiq said "harnessing the power of football" would help to "foster identity, pride and a sense of belonging" among young people.

Alysia Marcangelo said she "started to find myself again" when she started volunteering with Millwall

Alysia Marcangelo, a volunteer with Millwall, said the experience helped her find her purpose after leaving home aged 17.

"When I got kicked out, my confidence dropped quite a bit and I just didn't know who I was," Alysia, who is now 18, said.

"I started to find myself again, I got to interact with like-minded people, and I got to see the smiles on the children's faces.

"It made me realise I can use all that pain to become a better version of myself."

Violent crime in London

Last month Sir Sadiq said "the evidence was clear" the current approach to tackling crime was working.

But the Conservatives' shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, accused the mayor of "cherry-picking his numbers".

"Londoners don't feel safer because London isn't safer," Mr Philp added.

According to City Hall, there have been nearly 10,000 fewer offences of violence with injury in the year ending September 2025, compared to the previous year.

This summer saw the fewest murders in London since 2018, with no under-25 homicides recorded over the school summer holidays.

There was also a 7% drop in knife crime offences in London in the year to August 2025.