Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 27 October 2022.

• Over a quarter of a million more children are breathing cleaner air thanks to London’s growing network of school streets
• Despite progress, air pollution levels around 97 percent of schools and colleges in outer London still exceeds the latest (2021) World Health Organization (WHO) guideline for NO₂.
• Sadiq calls on Government to set much more ambitious targets for the Environment Act before 31 October deadline

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today revealed that more than 260,000 children are breathing cleaner air as a result of the capital’s growing network of School Streets.[1] Following the agreement of a funding deal for TfL to secure the transport network’s future, £69m per year will now go to boroughs to help them deliver even more School Streets. In the past five years, 373 school streets have been funded by City Hall and TfL, with the rest funded by the London boroughs.

School Streets restrict car access to streets outside a school at drop off and pick up times, making it safer, cleaner and easier for children to get to school on foot, by bike or by scooter. First introduced in Camden in 2017, there are now 547 across nearly every London borough with a quarter of primary schools now located on School Streets.

Despite the Mayor’s interventions meaning progress has been made, 97 per cent of schools and colleges in outer London still exceed revised air quality targets set by the World Health Organization, [2]. In around 75 per cent of these areas in outer London, air pollution remains so high that it exceeds even lower air quality targets set in 2005.

That is why the Mayor is also calling on the Government to set much more ambitious air quality targets under the Environment Act ahead of the deadline on 31 October. Sadiq is now urging ministers to work with him as he redoubles his efforts to protect Londoners from the lethal consequences of pollution and the environmental damage caused by fuel emissions.

Toxic air caused by traffic can lead to children growing up with stunted lungs and adults suffering from illnesses such as asthma, lung disease and dementia. Thousands of Londoners a year die prematurely because of long term exposure to air pollution – with the majority of deaths in London’s outer boroughs. This is why the Mayor is consulting to expand the Ultra-low Emission Zone London-wide, which could significant improve air quality for a further 5 million Londoners.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:  “School Streets are a key tool in helping to reduce air pollution around schools. They have made a massive difference to the way our children travel and there are now more children than ever in London benefiting from cleaner air, less congestion and safer roads.

“Despite progress being made, air quality around schools in outer London is still unacceptably poor which is why I have consulted to expand the Ultra-Low Emission Zone London-wide – to help save lives and build a better, greener and cleaner London for everyone.

“Even so, I can’t do it alone. The Government must stop disregarding the dangers of air pollution and act now to introduce bolder air quality targets under the Environment Act, to protect the next generation from the scourge of toxic air.”

Penny Rees, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: “Enabling parents and children to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school has so many benefits and is a vital part of making our capital safer, healthier and more sustainable. We’re delighted to see the School Streets network continue to grow, improving air quality across our capital. We’ll continue to work closely with schools, local communities and boroughs as we deliver further schemes across London so that all children can breathe cleaner air on their journey to and from school.”

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Rick Jewell, said: “We are committed to improving air quality across our borough and are working with the Mayor of London and other partners to identify and introduce initiatives to reduce and prevent pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

“School Streets have proven to be one of the most effective and popular ways of improving air pollution and encouraging school children to walk, cycle or scoot to school and we are committed to rolling out many more of these schemes in the months and years to come.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 26 October 2022.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has warned London’s affordable housing providers that they could lose access to funding if they fail to maintain their properties at the high standards Londoners deserve.

While Parliament is currently debating new legislation on strengthening consumer protection, the Mayor is clear that Londoners should expect high standards immediately. He is calling for leadership from Government, with additional affordable housing funding and reforms, such as a Commissioner for social housing residents, to drive better conditions.

The Mayor’s warning follows a letter to City Hall’s housing investment partners from the Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development, Tom Copley, sent last month. In this letter Tom Copley set out the actions City Hall will take if the Regulator issues either a non-compliant grade or a Regulatory Notice against a housing provider. Both notices indicate that a provider has breached a consumer or economic regulatory standard.

In extreme circumstances, the GLA may limit access to funding to a specific set of projects, including those already underway, and in the most severe cases, withdraw all funding and revoke investment partner status.

The Mayor of London’s new £4bn 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme already requires higher standards on design, safety and environmental performance for new homes than those funded outside London. The Regulator has a requirement to assure these standards are maintained in the long-term where they exceed the Decent Homes Standard benchmark.

The GLA is also introducing additional scrutiny of the housing maintenance track-records of newly qualifying investment partners, and in the requalification process for partners who have had their investment status restricted.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Most social housing in London is well managed and maintained. However, this is unfortunately not always the case and I am determined to use my funding powers to drive up standards in both new build and existing homes.

“London is building some of the most impressive new affordable homes in the country, but it is vital that existing residents experience high standards too.

“I will continue to call on the Government to also take responsibility for pushing for higher standards, including by making much needed additional funding available.

“We owe it to all Londoners to provide better, safer, and fairer housing in the capital.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 25 October 2022.

• New Cyber Resilience Centre to work with Met Police, City of London Police and British Transport Police to help small and medium businesses in London reduce their vulnerability to the most common types of cybercrime
• Action from Mayor comes as figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show that more than £1.8 billion was lost to fraud and cybercrime in London over the last year
• Businesses across the capital are being urged to sign-up to the centre’s free membership scheme

London’s businesses are being urged to join a new scheme, which has launched today thanks to funding from the Mayor, to protect them from the growing threat of cybercrime.

Figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show that more than £1.8 billion was lost to fraud and cybercrime in London over the last year [1], with 35 per cent of small and micro businesses suffering at least one attack or breach – which equates to around 250,000 businesses. [2].

The new Cyber Resilience Centre (CRC) is comprised of industry experts who will work with the Met Police, City of London Police and British Transport Police to enable it to support the capital’s small and medium businesses and help them be best prepared against a cyber-attack and support them when they have been targeted.

With London businesses increasingly targeted by phishing, hacking and ransomware attacks, industry leaders are warning that every organisation and business is a potential target for cyber criminals. Small and medium businesses are often hit harder by a loss of funds.

Over the next three years, the centre aims to help support around 20,000 London businesses most vulnerable to attacks, providing small business owners with practical online safety advice and face-to-face visits. The Mayor is investing £200,000 to support the Centre’s Community Outreach programme which includes the development of self-help toolkits for businesses and ‘How-To’ Video Guides on improving their resilience against cyber-attacks.

Cyber Resilience Centres receive an annual grant from the Home Office to help support the businesses that are most vulnerable to attacks, providing small business owners with valuable information and face-to-face community outreach visits which will help to keep London’s small and medium-sized businesses safe.

Businesses will be able to sign up for a free London Cyber Resilience Centre membership online and get instant access to safety advice, monthly cyber threat reports from the National Cyber Security Centre, latest guidance from the Met Police and City of London Police’s dedicated teams and a monthly newsletter with hints and tips on improving cyber resilience. They will also be able to contact the Cyber Resilience team with any urgent questions and receive training for staff.

Today, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden launched the new Cyber Resilience Centre at an event at City Hall attended by business owners. This is part of the Mayor’s ambition to make London the safest city in the world to do business online.

Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime, Sophie Linden, said: “Far too many small businesses in the capital are impacted by cybercrime, with billions of pounds lost and thousands of lives impacted each year.

“Our new Cyber Resilience Centre will help businesses stay safe online and protect them from cyber criminals. This is all part of our work to build a safer, more prosperous city for everyone and I urge all businesses in London to sign-up and use the centre’s services.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Cyber Resilience Centre for London, Simon Newman, said: “I’m delighted to be bringing the launch of the Cyber Resilience Centre for London to City Hall. We’ve been generously supported by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate our shared vision together.

“I’m really ambitious about the future of the CRC for London. I want to see it grow as a partnership between policing, industry and academia; for us to be seen as a trusted, reliable partner to the Capital’s SME community; and for our Cyber PATH programme to produce consistently high-quality talent. In 10 years’ time, I want to look back and be able to say that we have helped make London the safest city in the world to do business online.”

Metropolitan Police Commander, Catherine Roper, said: “It is essential that we come together to help London businesses protect themselves against cybercrime. This crime type is rapidly increasing, and often initially unseen, and yet has devastating effects on businesses and individuals. The exciting launch of the new Cyber Resilience Centre supports a collaboration between key partners to support small and medium businesses across London from becoming victims to cyber attacks.

“It also provides the vital platform to share best practice; knowledge and practical operational advice to ensure a strong defence to protect and prepare businesses from cybercrime. The Met is committed, with its partners, to do everything it can to tackle cybercrime – and today is a significant step forward.”

Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board, James Thomson, said: “We must ensure that the City and the wider national economy is one of the safest places to do business in the world. The London Cyber Resilience Centre will do just that – protecting the capital’s businesses and their customers, and helping to deliver a thriving economy.

“Becoming a victim of cybercrime ruins lives, whether it’s individuals or businesses that are the target and this is an enormous opportunity to make a difference, by preventing people from becoming victims in the first place.”

Chief Information Security Officer at NatWest, Chris Ulliott, said: “NatWest is proud to be an ambassador for the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group and are delighted to support the opening of London’s new Cyber Resilience Centre. The centre is working to help the capital’s business community build resilience against the very real threat of cybercrime.

“Small and medium-sized businesses are a fundamental part of the economy. As such it’s really important that these businesses are equipped with the best tools and knowledge to conduct their day-to-day business safely and securely online, which is a key priority of the Mayor of London, and we are very happy to help them do that.”