Sadiq Khan has pledged to invest an extra £7.8 million into tackling “complex causes of crime” if he is re-elected as London Mayor.

On Monday, the Labour incumbent is to announce that the new funding will be used to expand his Violence Reduction Unit’s (VRU) community-led programme, MyEnds, to deliver targeted youth work and mentoring.

It will help support young people in 11 of the capital’s neighbourhoods as they move from primary to secondary school, ensuring they are diverted away from gangs, Mr Khan said.

The mayor also committed to extending MyEnds to 30 neighbourhoods or estates in areas of London most affected by violence by the end of the next term.

His campaign has framed the May 2 vote as a “neck-and-neck” two-horse race between Labour and the Tory candidate Susan Hall, despite recent polling putting him on firm course for a historic third term.

Mr Khan’s team said it is a choice between someone “building a safer London for everyone” or a “divisive, hard-right Tory opponent” who they say has “strongly backed” cuts to police.

The mayor said: “Tackling violence and making our city safer is my number one priority. As mayor, I have been both tough on violence and tough on the complex causes of violence.

“This major new investment will play a pivotal role in providing targeted support to communities across the capital – whether youth work, mentoring, or a variety of after-school activities.”

However, Ms Hall hit back, saying Mr Khan “has nothing to offer but excuses” while crime in the capital “has soared out of control”.

She said: “I am listening to Londoners and as mayor, I will make our city safer. I will recruit 1,500 police officers, put two new bases in every borough, and bring back borough-based policing so the police local to you, supported by a £200 million investment in policing.”

Bruce Houlder, founder of Fighting Knife Crime London, said in the year to January 24 2024, there were 48,716 offences involving a knife or other sharp instrument in England and Wales, 28.9% of which occurred in and around London.

He went on: “The evidence is that some higher crime areas in Greater London lack the support they require. It is very welcome news that more such areas are now to receive it.

“Investment of this sort does save lives, calms communities, and ultimately saves much needed police and NHS resources. This aspect needs to receive so much more attention, and not just at election time.”