A Labour government would tackle rising knife crime among young people with a 10-year “tough love” programme, the shadow home secretary announced on Tuesday.
Yvette Cooper said teenagers “too often” felt unsafe and not listened to and many were left struggling with mental health issues.
A “Young Futures” programme would target almost 100 areas blighted by youth violence.
New youth hubs with mental health workers and youth workers would be set up across the country to help teens.
Addressing spiralling knife crime, which has risen by around 70% over the last eight years, would be a priority, Ms Cooper told the party conference in Liverpool.
Evoking former prime minister Tony Blair's policing plan, she said: “Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime. We said it, we mean it, that means we have to act.
“Labour will bring in new laws to crack down on dangerous knife sales and to stop gangs exploiting children.
“But we also need to step in early. Twenty five years ago, I was one of the Labour Ministers responsible for Sure Start. Bringing together different services in one place to help families with the very youngest children.
“I am determined that the next Labour Government will do the same for our teenagers....that’s why we are setting up a cross-Government ‘tough love’ initiative, with new youth hubs and proper local plans to identify those most at risk and help them access the support they need.”
Ms Cooper added that her plan aims to build on the successes of schemes such as SHiFT in south London, which provides mentors for young people who have become involved in violence.
Mayor London Sadiq Khan said: “I welcome the Young Futures plan which shows Labour being tough on crime and tough on its complex causes.”
