PM says Government is helping stop young people falling into crime following Hertfordshire raid

The Prime Minister says the Government is working to help prevent young people falling into crime with its Youth Strategy, but a boost to neighbourhood police officers is needed to take “appropriate action”.

It comes after our exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage of a drugs raid in Hemel Hempstead last week, where a large package of cannabis and an imitation firearm was found.

As a result, a 17-year-old boy was among two people arrested.

We asked the Prime Minister what the Government is doing to invest in youth services and help prevent young people falling into drugs and crime.

Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Sir Keir Starmer said: “We've recently published our youth strategy, that's the first time we've had a youth strategy, if you can believe it, in the country for years and years.

“It's a youth strategy which we produced using young people to help us and they said what they wanted was more provision on youth services, on sports, on things for them to do in their communities.

“So, it's a strategy that's based on things to do for young people, a place to do it, and an environment in which they can get on with what is better for them.

He added: “It's not the complete answer to keeping people out of crime, but it's a big step in the right direction.

“Of course, what we also need to do is to boost our neighbourhood police, and 3,000 more neighbourhood police are coming on stream in the Spring of this year. So, it's the combination of the strategy to help young people stay out of crime in the first place, but for those that do get involved, we need those police officers, we need that law enforcement so we can take the appropriate action.”

Watch:

You can watch our exclusive report into a drugs raid in Hemel Hempstead here: