Analysis: Youth crime - How Boris plans to end youth violence

1. Support young people who are in custody for the first time

Johnson's proposal to house young offenders in custody for the first time away from "experienced" criminals gained a lot of headlines. But there are no firm details on where this will happen or a timeline for achieving the plan.

What's more, Project Daedalus, as it is known, is not the first initiative of its kind - earlier this year a special wing was opened at Ashfield Young Offender Institution near Bristol, to keep younger inmates away from more experienced peers (CYP Now, 16-22 April).

Johnson also wants "highly focused" work with young people in their initial 48 hours in custody.

2. Keep young people in education

The Mayor says that a pattern of truancy is common to almost all young offenders and outlines his belief that by keeping young people in school, they won't turn to crime. Time for Action builds on existing policy and practice on multi-agency working by suggesting closer working between the police and children's services.

Councils will be asked to intervene earlier and fine parents if patterns of unauthorised absence develop, a power that already exists.

In addition, Johnson wants greater use of existing technology, such as text services to inform parents when their child has not attended school.

3. Scholarships for children in care

Improving outcomes for all looked-after children is key to Johnson's strategy. He proposes the "Mayor's Scholars" scheme, to offer scholarships for looked-after children to fund additional education.

According to the strategy, this would include tutors and adults who provide a consistency of supervision as young people move foster homes. This support could be someone to help them with homework or read them a story. No funding has been allocated yet, but Johnson is in talks with the Mayor's Fund for London to see how it could be financed.

Develop character and responsibility

Time for Action calls for the expansion of uniformed and non-uniformed youth groups, to teach young people at risk of turning to crime about respect. In the words of the report: "Scout troops and Army Cadet Squads are the kind of gangs we like. It's time to expand their turf."

The strategy says the Mayor's office will work with organisations such as Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Scouts, to spread their work throughout the capital. It will also offer grants, premises, coordination and publicity to maximise their work with disadvantaged young people.

4. Sport and music for all

Time for Action says Johnson wants to create an "explosion" of sporting opportunities for young Londoners. He is working on the forthcoming Mayor's Sporting Legacy Plan, with Olympics adviser Kate Hoey to identify ways young people can play a greater part in sport to divert them from crime. There is no date for publication.

Johnson is in talks with arts and music education providers to raise equality of cultural opportunities for young Londoners.

For its part, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced in February that it will pump £125m into giving young people across England the chance to experience quality arts and culture (CYP Now, 13-19 February).

5. Combat fear of youth crime

The Mayor says he wants young people to be given more of a voice and will work to promote a better image of them.

Johnson is working with children's organisations to discuss how to improve the perception of young people and the report says ideas are being developed to influence and work with regional and local media.

Moreover, he says that existing work by the Metropolitan Police on youth violence and deploying more police on London's transport system should reduce youth crime and in turn, the fear of it.

The consultation closes on 16 December. A series of delivery plans will be published in spring 2009.