England’s most deprived areas to get worse by next election, report for No 10 finds

‘The fact No 10 is asking the question is a good start, but now they know the scale of the challenge.’ Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

The country’s most deprived neighbourhoods will have higher crime rates and worse unemployment by the end of the parliament, according to a report written at the request of No 10.

The forecasts from the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (Icon) show crime rates and unemployment will rise until the next election in England’s 613 most deprived neighbourhoods, despite the government’s promises to invest in local communities.