LABOUR will launch a consultation today on establishing a statutory youth service and restoring decimated funding after a prominent knife-crime charity raised concerns over government cuts.

Shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs Cat Smith will be attending a summit to listen to charities and trade unions’ views on plans that will require every council to provide teenagers and children access to youth services and facilities.

As councils have struggled to cope with central government funding cuts of 40 per cent, services for young people have received a real-terms cut of £765 million between 2011-12 and 2017-18, according to Labour’s analysis, and there is no obligation for councils to provide such services.

Ms Smith said: “Years of damaging Tory cuts and the systematic removal of youth services has left a generation of young people without the opportunity to play a full part in our communities.

“The need for a statutory duty for every local authority to provide a minimum level of youth provision has never been stronger, which is why Labour will consult on the implementation of a statutory youth service.

“Rebuilding our youth service requires urgent action and fresh thinking. We look forward to working with young people, youth workers and communities as we prepare for government.”

She will be meeting representatives from ChooseYouth, National Youth Agency, UK Youth, the YMCA, the General Federation of Trade Unions, Unite and Unison.

Ben Kinsella Trust chief executive Patrick Green warned on Saturday that a “lack of infrastructure” for young people could be behind a recent surge in street violence in the capital.

He said: “After the London riots in 2011 there was huge enforcement and investment in youth services.

“When that money finished, around 2015 and 2016, youth crime started going up. The coincidence is startling.

“Youth services were particularly badly hit by the austerity cuts. Youth workers do an incredibly good job. They’re authentic and young people are a very discerning audience.

“They have a great reach and that’s what we’ve been missing.”

The Trust was set up by former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella in memory of her 16-year-old brother Ben, who was stabbed to death in Islington in 2008.