Briefings and responses

Everyone should have access to healthy and affordable food. The strategy response represents a missed opportunity to tackle the underlying causes of a variety of issues, many of which will continue to be exacerbated by the growing cost of living crisis. Unless the government takes urgent action, health inequalities will widen and its ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030 will be missed.

The LGA welcomes the opportunity to provide a response to the Government’s consultation on improving victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system. The following submission outlines our key points on behalf of our LGA membership, although local authorities may also look to respond directly to this consultation.

Tackling serious violent crime is a key priority for councils. This has become even more vital due to the rising levels of this type of crime and the harm it causes to victims and communities, as well as the young people and vulnerable adults drawn and exploited into committing it.

Investing in early intervention and prevention initiatives is vital, in order to help prevent serious violent crime, and knife crime. The Youth Endowment Fund is a welcome investment in youth diversionary schemes, but it cannot replace core local government funding in youth services.

Where Knife Crime Protection Order (KCPO) areas are introduced, it will be essential to ensure the new orders effectively tackle knife crime. These orders should not contribute to the unnecessary criminalisation of young people.

Councils recognise they have an important role to play in tackling domestic abuse, alongside partners in health, education, housing, the police and wider services. The Government’s commitment to ensure adequate funding will be provided to place vital accommodation-based domestic abuse services on a long-term, sustainable footing is therefore a positive step.

The new Domestic Abuse Bill has the potential to make important changes to help improve the lives of victims of domestic abuse.

The LGA shares the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) belief that good attendance at school plays a vital role in children’s development and for their well-being.

The LGA supports the provision of free early education for disadvantaged two-year-olds, in addition to the wider offer for all families.