London Assembly calls for community action plan to bring Londoners together

Created on

05 September 2024

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The capital has seen a number of violent and racist disorders during the summer, with local communities affected by violence.

All Londoners should be and feel safe, and the London Assembly stands united against the actions of violence witnessed in recent months.

That is why it has today agreed a motion calling on the Mayor to create a community cohesion action plan for London, to build and strengthen communities in London.

Unmesh Desai AM, who proposed the motion, said:

"Londoners stand united against hatred and violence.

"Extremism has no place in London. I am pleased that so many Londoners came together to show that violence and hate of any type has no place in our society.

"Every Londoner is valued and we have far more in common than what divides.

"Thank you to the police and other blue light services, who put themselves in the line of danger, to keep our communities safe."

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly stands united against the violent and racist disorder seen across the country during the summer. London is for everyone. These actions of violence, racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia have no place in our society.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by extremist violence. We'd like to put on record our thanks to the police officers, and other blue light services who bravely put themselves on the frontline to keep us safe.

This Assembly believes that all Londoners should be and feel safe. We welcome action taken by the Mayor of London and the police to support and reassure communities, including the Multi Faith Network who are working across London to ensure that there is zero tolerance for hatred and racism. We further welcome the recent expansion of City Hall-funded security training for places of worship in London and the reopening of the Government's Protective Security for Mosques Scheme.

This Assembly calls for the Mayor to create an integration and community cohesion action plan for London to build and strengthen communities in London. This action plan should include tangible actions to bring Londoners together, building on the objectives of the update to the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy in 2022.

We thank Londoners for coming together to support each other. We urge Londoners to continue to reject the hate of this small minority. We have more in common than that which divides us.

The meeting can also be viewed via webcast or YouTube.

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Notes to editors

1. The motion was agreed 21 votes for, none against.
2. Unmesh Desai AM,who proposed the motion, is available for interview.
3. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251727/ [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.