Keeping Our Young People Safe: Lambeth’s “Safe Road, Safe Way Home” Campaign

Lambeth Council is on a mission. Their new campaign—”Safe Road, Safe Way Home”—launched on 3 June 2025 in partnership with the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), aims to protect young people from robbery during one of the most vulnerable parts of their day: the school run. Here’s the breakdown of what’s happening, why it matters, and how it’s changing lives.

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🚶‍♂️ What’s Happening: A Multi-Front Approach

The campaign brings together four key elements:

1. Youth Outreach Patrols: 24 trained youth workers from Lambeth’s Youth Engagement Service (YES) are visible on school routes and hotspots, stepping in as mentors, not enforcers.
2. Mobile CCTV: Additional cameras placed in robbery hotspots feed into Lambeth’s 600‑camera network, helping authorities catch perpetrators and deter crime.
3. Police & Businesses: Local businesses and police teams are working together to monitor risk zones through regular patrols.
4. School Toolkit: Created with students and Young Creators UK, a new in-school resource package supports teachers in talking about safety, both physical and emotional, after school.

This two-year, £200,000 campaign builds on a drop in violence—with injury falling by 18.6% in the year to March 2025.

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Why It Matters—Especially for Young People

After-school vibes should be chill, not fearful. For too many Lambeth youths, the walk home is tinged with anxiety. Being seen, being scared, feeling unsafe—that’s not how childhood should go.

When youth workers are on the road rather than in offices, young people connect with real humans—not just CCTV or police in vans. These workers signpost local opportunities and spot early signs of exploitation or violence. That relationship-based, public-health led approach is exactly what Lambeth is pushing—with YES positioned as a frontline support team, not just enforcement.

But the emotional damage is real. Robbery isn’t just about money—it’s about self-worth, about feeling safe in your own hometown. Lambeth Council recognises this, saying robberies “can have a deep emotional impact on young people”—and pledging to address that head-on.

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What It Shows: A Generation’s Demand for Real Safety

Lambeth isn’t acting alone. The borough-wide Lambeth Made Safer strategy shows serious youth violence disproportionately affects Black young people and those from deprived areas. In 2022, 70% of kids identified crime and knife violence as top fears—supporting why this campaign is so necessary.

Here’s the hard truth: being Black, working-class, or living in postcode hotspots shouldn’t mean you’re at higher crime risk. Yet it’s often the case. Programs like this are the first step in a serious pivot toward equity in safety.

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Why It’s Inspiring

1. Designed with Young People – This campaign isn’t top-down. Youth from Lambeth shaped the message, pointing out who they trust and what changes would help them feel protected.
   
2. Street Presence, Not Just Cameras – Tech can deter crime—but so can human connection. Youth workers patrolling streets are building trust where it matters most.
3. Focus on Mental Health – Acknowledging that robbery impacts mental well-being, not just wallet size, is a major step forward. The school toolkit includes guidance on emotional support and mental health resources like Kooth, a free mental health platform for under-25s.
4. Evidence-Based Results – With sustained drops in violence and real-time data from improved CCTV, this initiative is proof that investing in community and prevention works.

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👣 What This Means for Young People

A renewed sense of confidence
Young people walking to class without the weight of fear—this is empowerment manifest. Feeling safe outdoors is a vital right, not a luxury.

Access to opportunities
Youth workers can hand off local agency invites, workshops, youth clubs—broadening horizons and connecting kids to positive pathways.

Normalization of trauma discussion
No more silence when it comes to emotional impact. Teachers and counsellors are better equipped to help students process their feelings.

A spark for local leadership
When young people see a council responding directly to their concerns, it sends a message: your voice matters.

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What’s Next

This is a longer-term mission—not a flash-in-the-pan initiative. It runs for two years with regular VRU-funded updates. This means continuous evaluation, adapting to evolving hotspots and refining tactics.

The next step? Youth involvement deepens. Lambeth Council promises ongoing collaboration and trend analysis to adapt patrols, hotspots, and engagement efforts. Expect new data released regularly, showing not just police stats but well-being markers and participation measures.

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Voices from the Street

During the launch at Bishop Thomas Grant School in Streatham, VRU Director Lib Peck emphasised that “young people are vulnerable to exploitation and violence … the after-school period is crucial.”

And Cllr Dr Mahamed Hashi—who leads Safer Communities in Lambeth—said:

“Our ambition is to make Lambeth one of the safest boroughs in London… robbery can have a deep emotional impact on young people.”

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Final Thoughts

“Safe Road, Safe Way Home” isn’t just a facelift. It’s a reboot of how we think about youth safety—grounded in prevention, outreach, and dignity.

For young Londoners grieving post-school anxiety, this campaign offers more than CCTV. It offers care and possibility. “We’ve got your back—not because we have cameras, but because we care.”

That’s the heart of Inside Success. This is about empowering the next generation. Giving them the tools and trust to own their journeys—one walk home at a time.

https://love.lambeth.gov.uk/lambeth-launches-new-drive-to-keep-young-people-safe-from-crime-after-school/

https://insidesuccessmagazine.com/category/politics