The Safer Lambeth Partnership (SLP) is set to miss its yearly target for reducing gang violence, gun and knife crime.

The latest statistics show in the past year gun crime has increased by 25 per cent, knife crime by 0.8 per cent, and serious youth violence by 0.7 per cent in the borough.

Targets for the past 12 months were for 5 per cent decreases in gun crime and serious youth violence, and a 6 per cent reduction in knife crime.

The increase in gun and serious youth violence is described as “high risk” by the joint organisation - consisting of Lambeth police, the council and other public bodies – because of the extent targets are set to be missed.

The figures are contained in a 2009-10 performance report that was due to be discussed by the SLP on Tuesday.

A threefold increase in armed robberies of businesses - mainly pubs and other licensed premises - is blamed for the spike in gun crime.

Serious youth violence – when a young person is the perpetrator or victim of violence - is believed to be because of an increase in gang activity.

The report stated the Young and Safe project – the SLP’s anti-gang strategy – was delivering education and employment training, parental support, and the 2XL programme to help youth offenders or those at risk of getting involved in gangs.

Increased after-school police patrolling was also aiming to clamp down on the problem.

But the report stated: “While serious youth violence remains high in Lambeth, and has increased over the last three months, it has increased less than our surrounding boroughs, with our neighbouring boroughs all reporting significant increases.”

Wandsworth and Southwark have seen 20.3 per cent and 12.3 per cent increases in youth violence respectively. Their increases in knife crime have also been significantly higher than Lambeth’s.

Despite the missed targets in key areas, the number of serious violent crimes per 1,000 residents has gone down by 7 per cent, and the number of people caught for the offences has surged by 41 per cent.