MORE than £800,000 is being put into efforts to save young people in the Thames Valley from being exploited by gangs and county lines drug dealers

The Home Office has awarded Anthony Stansfeld, the region's police and crime commissioner the cash from its Early Intervention Youth Fund.

Running until March 2020, the £822,000 will pay for a programme aimed at preventing young people from being exploited into becoming involved in violence and offending through gangs and county lines drug dealing.

The work will be in partnership with organisations across the Thames Valley including youth offending teams, substance misuse services, local authorities and secondary schools.

Efforts will include raising awareness in all secondary schools across the Thames Valley about knife crime and youth violence.

Extra support for teachers and schools in tackling school exclusions will also be provided, with the aim to have specialist support such as youth workers within approximately a third of secondary schools. There will also be funding to provide opportunities for young people who are not in education or employment, as well as targeted engagement with young people already involved in gangs and knife crime, providing intensive support including access to therapies and skills training.

Mr Stansfeld said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding for the Thames Valley. It provides the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the lives of young people and communities; tackling youth violence both in areas where knife crime, violence and county lines are existing issues as well as areas with emerging threat where early intervention can make a huge difference in changing the trajectory of individual’s lives."