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<p>Statistics are collected at the Police Force Area level only. Statistics for lower
levels of geography (e.g. London Borough level) are not held by the Home Office. The
Government takes seriously the concerns that have been expressed about the levels
of serious violence in Bexley and other boroughs in London over recent months and
has sought an assessment of the current response by the Metropolitan Police.</p><p>The
Government is strengthening police numbers over the next three years by putting extra
police officers on the streets and increasing sentences for violent criminals. Police
will be given more powers to stop and search those who have been convicted of knife
crime. 6,000 additional officers will be recruited in England and Wales by March 2021
and their ranks will be increased by 20,000 over the next three years.</p><p>Funding
for policing is increasing by £1 billion this year, including council tax and the
Serious Violence Fund, through which, we are providing £63.4 million to the 18 police
forces worst affected by serious violence to pay for surge operational activity, such
as increased patrols, and £1.6 million to help improve the quality of data on serious
violence, particularly knife crime, to support planning and operations. This includes
an additional £20.8 million of surge funding to the Metropolitan Police. In addition,
£35 million of the Serious Violence Fund is being invested in Violence Reduction Units
(VRUs), which will form a key component of our action to build capacity in local areas
to tackle serious violence.</p><p>The Government will change the law so that police,
councils and health authorities are legally required to work together to prevent and
tackle serious violence. The Offensive Weapons Act introduces new laws which to give
police extra powers to seize dangerous weapons and ensure knives are less likely to
make their way onto the streets in the first place.</p>
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