The national Labour group has claimed young people in Waltham Forest have seen a cut of 81 per cent services funding since 2010.

The group is worried this could be driving a rise in youth violence, with three stabbings and one shooting in Walthamstow just last week.

But the local Conservative leader has accused the group of “playing party politics” and using “selected” figures that do not show the whole picture; pointing out spending on child services is decided by the local Labour-led council.

The national Labour groups analysed Government figures and said the borough has seen a real-terms cut of £126 per child since Conservatives came to power in 2010.

In 2010, there £155 was set aside for every child to provide services in the area. That has now fallen to £29 (2018/19).

Labour are worried these real term cuts are causing a rise in youth violence. Just last week in Walthamstow there were three stabbings and one shooting in the area.

Labour said spending on youth justice, councils working with young people to reduce reoffending and keep them out of the justice system, has been cut by 45 per cent across England in the same period.

The group stated figures from the Office of National Statistics show crime recorded by police in London rose four per cent between June 2017 and June 2018. Robbery also went up by 27 per cent, theft by five per cent and drugs offences by 18 per cent.

Faiza Shaheen, Labour Party candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, said: “Youth services are vital to making sure youngsters in Waltham Forest fulfil their potential – and keeping them out of trouble.

“Tory cuts are have pushed our services to the brink and tearing the heart out of our community. Cuts have consequences. The Tories have betrayed a generation of young people, and those cuts have created the conditions in which crime can thrive in Waltham Forest.

“Labour in government will introduce legislation to guarantee quality youth services for all of our young people and we will give our councils the funding they need to invest in our public services”.

However, Alan Siggers, Waltham Forest Conservatives’ group leader, accused the national Labour group of “playing party politics”.

He explained the borough’s council approved a 2.2 per cent increase in its core spending power for the 2018-19 financial year while avoiding against an excessive council tax rise.

He said: “This strikes a balance between giving councils the ability to meet pressures and ensure our most vulnerable get the support they need.”

The council has also received £4.5million of funding from the Government’s Troubled Families Programme.

Mr Siggers added: “Labour controlled Waltham Forest Council sets its priorities for how it spends its local and central government funds. Funding for children’s services is not ringfenced, meaning the responsibility lies directly with the local authority.

“The Labour Party’s comparative use of ‘selected’ statistics excludes contradictory facts such as, for total crime there has been a 15 per cent drop in all crime offences in the year to September 18 (23,221 offences) compared with the year to Jun 10 (27,316).

“Also, they fail to point out that Government initiatives such as the Troubled Families Programme, which Waltham Forest benefits from, has achieved notable reductions in youth reoffending.

“Yet again the Labour Party are playing party politics with issues that affect people’s lives.”