Memorandum submitted by The Safer Southwark
Partnership
THE SOUTHWARK APPROACH TO TACKLING GANG AND
WEAPON CRIME
1. INTRODUCTION
Southwark, has long recognised the serious impact
of gang and weapon crime on its communities and in particularly
the communities of south London. As a central London borough,
with areas of high deprivation and a younger than average population,
Southwark has witnessed a number of high-profile incidents which
has had an impact on the fear of violence, particularly among
young people.
However, we are also a borough which is at the
forefront of thinking about the causes of and solutions to gang
and weapon-related crime. Our position allows us to gain insights
into the realities of these types of crime which we believe will
be helpful to the committee and its work.
The research we have undertaken, together with
our considerable experience gained through our partnership approach
has led us to the conclusion that serious violence offences are
often related to organised gang activity. This insight is informed
by our experience and helps to inform our approach, both of which
are articulated below.
2. OUR APPROACH
The Safer Southwark Partnership (SSP) delivers
a strategic, whole systems approach to addressing and preventing
violent crime. Our approach is based around four tiers of intervention:
1. Prevention and early identification.
3. Intensive intervention.
The diagram below outlines this approach and
how we use the four tier model to both assess the risks to both
the individuals involved, their families and the wider community
and escalate issues to ensure rapid and appropriate responses.
This four-tier approach acts as a golden thread
running throughout the work of Safer Southwark Partnership. We
have developed a range of programmes to operate at each of the
four tiers to ensure that we are employing appropriate interventions,
depending on the personal, family or community circumstances.
The model allows the partnership to identify emerging trends and
gaps in delivery and allows us to use a network of agencies to
address those gaps swiftly.
The difference between a gang and a group
As we outlined above, our experience tells us
that organised gangs are at the root of much of the reported gang
and weapon violence. However, it is important in this respect
to understand the difference between organised gangs, which are
more like businesses, and the violent street groups which are
becoming more prevalent in our urban areas.
Organisational gangs
a well structured business organisation with
a distinctive brand. Organisational gangs have a defined territory
which is not geographical but based on highly profitable criminal
activity such as drug markets. Organisational gangs will have
clearly defined positions within its structure and will use a
range of recruitment methods, including coaching fostering and
head hunting to ensure stability for the business and longevity
of the gang. Organisational gangs carry out specific acts of serious
violence to protect their business. Members of organisational
gangs are influencers often held in high esteem amongst urban
street groups.
Urban street groups
A group of three or more individuals who have
developed a close association through the area they have grown
up in, the school they have attended, family or other community
based networks. They have a defined identity and commit a range
of anti social behaviour and criminal activity. The street group
will have a geographical territory. They are chaotic in nature
often carrying out acts of serious violence due to respect or
retribution. Street groups may have links to organisational gangs,
in terms of providing profits through the drug markets, acting
as drug or weapon mules, or even carrying out acts of violence
on behalf of organised gang member. The members are imitators
of others rather than influencers over others.
3. IDENTIFYING
MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS
THAT CAUSE
GANG AND
WEAPON RELATED
CRIME
A key part of the Southwark approach is the
identification of the motivational factors that cause gun, gang
and weapon violence. We employ sophisticated analysis and intelligence
models which are described below. In addition, we have built strong
links with young people, particularly those involved in serious
violence and families affected by gang and weapon crime.
The diagram below outlines the range of motivational
factors which this work has identified:
It is clear from the work of the partnership
that the influence of organisational gangs, heavily involved in
the illegal economy and in particular the illegal drugs market,
is a key motivational factor in gang and weapon violence. The
influence that older, "respected" and feared individuals
who control these markets have over younger members is often at
the root cause of knife crime at a street level.
As a partnership we are aware that young people
form friendships and "support networks" at school, in
their neighbourhoods or estates, through activities, family or
cultural connections. These street groups are not all gangs and
not everyone involved in a street group becomes involved in gangs.
In our experience, the personal experiences
of individuals, whether through bullying, family breakdown or
incidents of violence are a defining factor of whether and individual
does become involved in illegal or violent gang activity, as opposed
to a street group or other support network.
4. INTERVENTIONS
The Safer Southwark Partnership (SSP), has developed
a range of tools to identity those at risk of becoming involved
in gun gang and weapon violence. These include:
GATES
Southwark Council, along with Victim Support
has developed an advice and information service that young people,
professionals or family members can use to help those at risk
of entering a gang to access and receive support, information
and signposting to key services. GATES also provides a free texting
service that alerts people of activities in the area and other
services, for example workshops at Connexions on how to complete
a CV.
Gangs Assessment Tool
The Southwark youth offending team and community
safety and enforcement team have developed a risk assessment tool
which uses a range of risk and protective factors to identify
whether an individual is at risk of becoming involved in gang
or weapon crime.
The tool is used in a range of multi agency
settings and is being developed in our SILs and YOIs.
Anti bullying programme
We have developed an anti bullying programme
and strategy which is being rolled out across all of our schools.
Training on identification and referrals process has been delivered
to over 50 schools at primary and secondary level. These form
part of the council's commitment to the DCSF "Safe to Learn"
programme.
5. DELIVERING
OUR WHOLE-SYSTEM
APPROACH
As a partnership we have developed a whole-system
approach to identify and address gang and weapon crime through
a range of different approaches. We recognise the need to deliver
a range interventions in different contexts. In this way we can
provide support for those affected by serious violent crime in
the environment that most benefits them.
6. WORKING WITH
SCHOOLS
— We have anti violence councils in
two of the borough's secondary schools. In each school twelve
young people are being trained to act as peer educators for students
to help prevent violent incidents within the school environment.
This is a youth offending team (YOT) pilot and if successful,
we aim to rollout across the borough.
— Multi agency support programmes—we
have worked closely with schools and SILs affected by serious
violence to identify and take action against those at the heart
of this violence. The approach combines the expertise of our YOT,
Southwark Anti Social Behaviour Unit (SASBU), wardens and Police
who work with the school on those individuals and their families
affected by gang and weapon violence.
— Our YOT has a dedicated gang disruption
team who deliver educational programmes in schools. These programmes,
which are aimed at either specific year-groups or other target
groups, identify the risks of becoming involved in a gang and
raise awareness of how to reduce the risk of becoming involved
in or linked to gang activity.
— As a partnership, we use ABCs and
ASBOs as a preventative tool in terms of gang and weapon crime.
Our ABCs include linking an individual to an activity or creating
an environment where they can demonstrate their abilities and
keep safe. We work with schools to identify individuals suitable
for an ABC or ASBO and subsequently work with them and the young
person's family to explore the underlying issues behind their
behaviour and the most effective remedial action.
— Southwark has worked with the local
organisation, From Boyhood to Manhood, to deliver a modular interactive
education programme in schools known as Calling the Shots. This
programme deglamourises gang and weapon violence and provides
advice and information about life choices and healthy lifestyles.
— Wasted programme—Southwark
YOT has developed an educational programme about the impact of
knife crime, known as the Wasted project. The project is delivered
in schools in group sessions and also in the YOT and has proved
very effective in changing perceptions of knife crime.
7. WORKING WITH
FAMILIES
SSP recognises the vital role that families
play in addressing gang and weapon violence. Our work includes:
High Risk Families
Through working with DCSF Youth Crime Task Force
we have structured our Family Intervention Programme (FIP) to
focus on high risk families associated with crime and anti social
behaviour. To date we have worked with 20 problematic families
offering case work, counselling, parenting support and other support
services.
Home Visits
In an effort to put in place preventative measures
to discourage young people from getting involved in violent crime
we have developed a pioneering approach, which involves making
direct personal contact with young people already involved in
or at risk of becoming involved in gang activity. These young
people are identified through work with the police.
Home visits take place in the family home with
the parents or guardians present and involve talking in an open
and frank manner about the serious risks inherent in becoming
involved in gang activity and the repercussions that might follow.
The aim is to get them out of the situation they are involved
in by referral to other services, providing support to parents
and other measures.
The visits can be highly-charged and emotionally
very challenging for the officers involved. The young people visited
have ranged from being tearful and terrified of the behaviour
that they have got involved in, to, being in a state of emotional
shock and denial. Trying to break down these walls of silence
and despair has been the most harrowing and yet rewarding part
of the process.
Some young people have embraced the positive
messages being delivered during the visits and have engaged with
other agencies who they are referred on to. In some cases Acceptable
Behaviour Contracts have been negotiated. The visiting team emphasise
that there is an alternative to a criminal and gang-affiliated
life style and that young people and their families need to communicate
their own fears and insecurities and support each other. The tone
and approach taken by the visiting team is one of understanding
and empathy but they are also uncompromising in detailing the
enforcement action that can and will be taken where a lifestyle
change is not embraced.
In the vast majority of cases parents have been
enthusiastic in their appreciation of the council's support and
assistance to families.
To date 27 young people and their families have
been visited. Successes include:
— 2 engaged with youth intervention
programmes.
— 3 families referred to parenting
support interventions, with links to worklessness support.
— 1 young person engaged with the gangs
disruption team.
— 1 young man agreed to start a sports
coaching course and 3 more are involved in our community games
programme.
— 1 young person attending a building
apprenticeship course.
One parent has been so grateful by the support
offered that she attended a ministerial meeting with Vernon Coaker
MP. She described to the minister how reassured she felt by our
leadership role and that agencies were working together to deal
with escalating violence.
Jennifer Blake, Eternal Life Support
"The biggest difference the home visits
are making is showing concerned parents that the statutory agencies
are willing to go the extra mile to solve violent crime.
It is alsp helping parents' awareness of the
things their children are becoming involved in and empower them
to take a more active role in solving these issues.
By referring these young people to voluntary
sector agencies like ourselves, this effort is not simply a one
off visit but a continued sustained effort to support these families
in their communities".
Educational support programmes
Building on the parenting programme that is
being developed through children's services, two provide clearly
defined support and counselling for families who are involved
in gun and gang violence. These programmes are delivered by voluntary
organisations such as Eternal Life and Support Centre and Rights
Foundation.
SERVE pilot scheme (safe housing)
The Safer Southwark Partnership (SSP) has identified
a crucial and thus-far unfulfilled service requirement to provide
urgent transitory accommodation and support for individuals and/or
families at serious risk of gang and/or weapon related violence
for a 12 week period, and to work towards finalising long term
housing provision.
To meet this need, the Southwark Rehousing Victims
of Violence Enterprise (SERVE) project has been developed with
local housing associations, London and Quadrant, Family Mosaic
Housing, Southern Housing, Hyde Housing and Victim Support and
is being run as a nine month pilot.
This original and innovative Southwark conceived
initiative is thought to be a ground breaking nationwide "first
of its kind" project and is pointing the way to other local
authorities who are considering adopting a similar approach.
This scheme is primarily intended to ensure
and provide safety, refuge and support (by means of re-accommodation)
for the following target group(s):
— Clients who face a serious risk of
violence due to their association with a suspect or victim.
— Direct family members or partner
or friends who are at serious risk of violence or retribution
of a gang due to a witness, victim or suspects involvement.
— A victim, witness or suspect who
is refusing to testify due to close proximity of gang members
to their home address or the immediate threat that their testimony
will have on their friends family or partners.
The scheme sets out to minimise the threat of
violence facing an individual or family due to their associated
link to gang or weapon violence by following the procedures listed
below:
— Clients who are identified as being
eligible to receive this service will face an initial referral
by either: housing risk assessment procedure, Hamrow gangs intelligence
unit, YOT risk management panel or MARAC.
— Upon referral clients will be risked
assessed for their eligibility for inclusion by being by being
assigned a risk assessment officer from Southwark anti social
behavior unit (SASBU) who will carry out the assessment in accordance
with current RA2 procedures.
— The risk assessment officer, working
closely with designated officers including an RSL liaison officer,
SSP RSL authorisation officer and Southwark Victim Support manager
to oversee the relocation process.
— Thorough and stringent checks will
be carried out to ensure suitability of the accommodation, please
see appendix 1 for a detailed summary of these intended measures.
— Security, confidentiality and client
anonymity will also be paramount considerations, and various measures
will be put into place to ensure this, including utilising Southwark
Victim Support's CASTLE scheme, and the use of supplied mobile
phones for clients with GPS tracking systems in place.
8. WORKING WITH
INDIVIDUALS
Working with individual members of a group or
gang, rather than the whole group or gang is a vital part of our
approach. As we have described above, the Southwark approach is
to identify the external influences that affect each individual
as well as the personal experiences that define an individuals
specific motivations to commit serious violence.
Our programmes includes:
— Southwark Gangs Disruption Team—based
in the Southwark YOT, the team comprises five officers who deliver
individual and group programmes to known be involved in gang or
street group violence. The team are also working in Youth offending
Institutions, including Cookham Wood and Feltham, working on a
1:2:1 basis to deliver support programmes to pre-release young
offenders who are known to be involved in gang or street group
violence.
— Intensive intervention programmes—Southwark
has worked with a range of specialist services to develop intensive
one to one support services over a three to six month period.
This includes counselling support, cognitive behaviour, educational
and vocational support. The programmes are delivered by external
agencies such as Involve who have a proven track record in this
work.
— In 2008-09 we have worked with Involve
and the Southwark YOT to develop a specialist intensive support
programme for young women who are known to be involved in or associated
with gang are serious group violence. To date we are working with
18 young women over a 13 week period, providing sessional and
one to one support, counselling and psychotherapy support.
— Prolific and other Priority Offender
(PPO) programme. We have developed our PPO programme to include
known serious violent offenders who are exiting prison as part
of our resettlement programmes.
— St Giles SOS programme. We
have established a post prison release programme through an established
voluntary agency who work with known gang offenders begin released
from custody. The programme provides basic one to one support,
access to education and employment, financial and accommodation
support. Each offender has a mentor who works with them for six
months. The programme has supported over 60 offenders to reintegrate
into the borough in 2008-09.
— Independent Domestic Violence
Advisors (IDVAs) —Our research has identified a clear
link between the experience of violence for some young people
at an early age, which can result ion violent behaviour in later
life. Domestic violence is a key contributor to this trend. The
most appropriate and effective way to provide services for victims
is via IDVAs. Advocacy services offer a single point of contact
for victims and guide them through services available, offering
emotional, practical and legal support. As part of Southwark's
domestic violence strategy we are trying to engage victims early-on
through routine enquiry and are running a pilot project in Southwark
Anti-Social Behaviors Unit (SASBU) where all female clients are
asked if they are subject to domestic abuse. Protocols in place
mean there is a quick referral through to the IDVA agencies if
the need arises. We are aware of the vulnerability of young girls
who might be involved in gangs, and there is a current drive to
find funding for work in this area. Gangs work in the borough
has been influenced by the IDVA model (in addition to enforcement
interventions gang members are also offered advocacy to help get
out and stay out of gangs). We are already in contact with organisations
who could host parallel programmes for young people on domestic
violence and gangs work.
Advocates work within specialist areas:
— housing/SASBU (Southwark Anti-Social
Behaviour Unit);
— we are currently capacity building
small BAME groups so that in future they could host IDVAs.
IDVAs are effective because:
— they do immediate risk assessments
and safety planning;
— there is less stigma attached to
seeing an IDVA than statutory workers;
— as professionals in the DV services
they have industry standards and special training; and
— as independent advisors they have
no other agenda other than victim safety and empowerment.
9. WORKING WITH
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Our communities have given us a very clear message
that they want to play an active part in tackling gun gang and
knife violence. As partner agencies we have established a network
of community leaders and voluntary agencies who we work with through
to develop service gaps and deliver specific programme. These
include:
— Southwark Gangs Community Forum—established
in 2005, the forum brings together over 20 local community and
voluntary organisations. We share local community intelligence,
discuss emerging issues related to gang and weapon violence and
identify delivery programmes to address these issues.
— Road shows—the SSP has
embarked on an ambitious programme of road shows around our key
town centre areas. The road shows combine information, support
and advice on gang and weapon violence, along with interactive
dialogue session known as "talkeoke". The talkeoke allows
members of the public to express their view and discuss issues
with police, council leads and other key partners on what needs
to be done.
— Youth activity events—we
understand how important it is to ensure that the views of our
young people are heard. We have developed a range of activities
to involve young people and support them in delivering local initiatives.
We have held music and dance events at the Ministry of Sound,
and worked with young people to design, act and produce their
own films.
— Youth advisors—The Southwark
community warden service has developed local youth advisors, young
members of our community who are trained as part of our programme
of building closer links with young people in the borough. We
currently have four trained youth advisors who are work locally
and with central government to help shape the local agenda.
— Advocacy programme—The
SSP has been developing an advocacy programme, similar to Independent
Domestic Violence Advocates, which will provide one to one support
and mentoring to individuals involved in or affiliated to gang
violence. We will be expanding this programme to two areas. We
are developing a network of community-based advocates and specialist
advocates working with young adults to help them make significant
life style changes to move away from gang and weapon violence.
10. USING ENFORCEMENT
INTELLIGENTLY
The clear message that we have received from
our community is that they want agencies to use enforcement, but
they want it to be used more intelligently, rather than in a "blanket"
approach. As such, we have established closer multi-agency working
to focus on those individuals and groups which are causing the
most significant harm.
Operation Hamrow
Hamrow is a partnership operation including
police, probation, YOT, the PCT, the Borders Agency and SASBU.
This operation targets individuals who are involved in serious
gang or weapon related violence and works with a small number
of individuals at any one time, overtly contacting them, carrying
out visits and using a range of other disruption tactics. Targeting
is based on intelligence profiles. The aim is to prevent serious
violence from occurring and employing strong enforcement where
it does.
Southwark's levels of most serious violence
rose during 2007-08 and the most serious of this violence can
be attributed to gang violence. Most offenders are in the 17-24
age range. Hamrow's concerted drive towards targeting specific
gangs and gang members has produced good results, including a
police response which is intelligence-led to disrupt the activities
of gun crime nominals and minimise firearm related offences. The
operation consists of three objectives, as outlined below:
1. Intelligence—comprehensive research
on identified gun crime nominals that intelligence suggests have
a propensity to engage in gun enabled crime.
2. Prevention—implementation of tactical
options, regularly monitored and reviewed.
3. Enforcement—proactive operations on
subjects identified as above. The management of the intelligence
and the products arising from that intelligence will be managed
in accordance with MPS guidelines.
The dynamics of Operation Hamrow and the drugs
and firearms team has evolved substantially and leads on tackling
gun crime, gang activity and drugs in Southwark. There are fortnightly
meetings attended by partnership agencies such as Operation Trident,
Southwark Council, Immigration Service, Probation, YOTS, Lambeth
and Lewisham Councils, the Primary Health Trusts and TSG. These
meetings share intelligence and decide on the appropriate tactics
to adopt with reference to specific subjects, whether it be intervention
or enforcement.
Operation Hamrow focuses on proactive targeting
and is equally committed to the post op/charge investigation and
evidence gathering process to enhance the prospect of conviction.
Last year Operation Hamrow:
— carried out 55 search warrants executed
over the period leading to the recovery of controlled drugs, stolen
property, firearms and ammunition;
— recovered 12 firearms with ammunition—the
most notable being a loaded 9 shot pump action shotgun. The rest
of the weapons have been handguns;
— 19 firearms warrants executed in
the period;
— completed approximately 60 proactive
operations aimed at gang members, drug supply or firearms operations;
— arrested 56 individuals for offences
ranging from possession of cannabis to possession of drugs with
intent to supply and firearms possession; and
— substantial drugs and cash seizures
throughout the year. The team has carried out 18 drugs search
warrants leading to the recovery of both class A and class C controlled
drugs, cash and assets.
Up until to October 2008 there have been:
— 47 search warrants executed;
— recovery of five firearms and ammunition
with two persons being charged and awaiting trial;
— substantial seizures of cocaine,
two kilos on one occasion;
— approximately £100,000 in assets/cash
recovered; and
— 66 arrests—27 are gang members
in Southwark or neighbouring boroughs.
Pathways Programme
The SSP has been working closely with a central
team in the MPS and London Criminal Justice Board to establish
a programme which uses criminal justice to enforce gang members
into making lifestyle changes. The pathways programme identifies
and calls in individuals who are known serious gang members. Key
service and community leaders talk about the consequences of gang
and weapon violence. The gang members are offered a short window
of opportunity to change. If they take this opportunity, an advocate
will work with them to find ways to make and sustain that change.
The programme will be launched in the early spring.
11. WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP
Southwark has a history of effective partnership
working and has established relationships with our key partner
agencies.
Partnership Operations Group (POG)
Established in 2005, recognising that crime,
disorder and anti social behaviour has to be tackled in partnership
because no single agency can deal with such complex issues in
isolation, and that pooled intelligence and resources was the
way to deliver sustainable solutions to achieve a real difference
for the community.
The council and key partners are committed to
ensuring the people who live, work and go out in Southwark are
well served and this is demonstrated by the importance and commitment
given to POG. Member agencies send authoritative representatives
to enable speedy decision making, resource commitment and necessary
actions take place. Key members of the partnership include:
— Police (Met and British Transport
Police);
— PPO probation officers; and
— Voluntary organisations such as Victim
Support Southwark and Southwark Mediation.
The key aim is to provide a framework to task
a range of partnership resources based on data and intelligence
profiling, ensuring we deliver to communities the most effective
and efficient services.
POG concentrates on the violent crime agenda,
reviewing and co-ordinating our partnership response on alcohol
related violence and youth violence as well as repeat domestic
violence cases.
With a strong forward planning remit the POG
meets fortnightly and agrees operational tasking, supported by
analysis and profiling of partnership intelligence on current
and emerging issues compiled by the community desk. The meeting
considers events, holiday periods and any other issues that are
taking place in the borough. It uses analysis, expertise of partnership
staff and the views of the community to plan for these appropriately.
Cross borough problems and intelligence is shared with the relevant
cross borough partners. POG is recognised as a model of best practice
by the Government Office for London.
Working in partnership with our business communities
Southwark Trading standards have taken a lead
role in working with our local business to make sure retailers
comply with the law, particularly with regards to sales of knifes
to under 18s.
Southwark Council carries out a range of trading
standards activities to educate and raise awareness among retailers
and consumers around knife and alcohol sales:
— publicity of trading standards activities
through local and national media and community reassurance awareness
campaigns contributes to reducing the fear of crime;
— roadshows in shopping and community
areas around the borough are carried out to increase awareness
of these issues with the general public;
— pioneering work by the council includes
the launch of the knife charter in 2006, a voluntary agreement
between the council and retailers which sets out tougher requirements
around knife sales. The charter was recently updated with the
knife charter plus. Certificates are presented to retailers who
commit to:
— to only sell any knives to over 18s,
and ask prospective knife purchasers who look under 21 for suitable
proof of age;
— to display knives in secure lockable
cabinets; behind a sales counter or use an appropriate security
tagging system; and
— to train staff adequately and will
use electronic till prompts and/or till stickers to remind staff
to check customers' ages, and display agecheck point-of-sale material.
We have launched an innovative joint pilot with
Lambeth Council, investigating online sales of knives or bladed
instruments to under 18s. Until February 2009, trading standards
officers will target online local and national retailers, as well
as specialist retailers and online auction sites:
— The council is rolling out the Southwark
Proof of Age (SPA) card to schools to provide a suitable form
of ID is available for traders to request.
— Training seminars to traders about
under age sales.
Who within the partnership is involved and the
role they play:
— police issue fixed penalty notices
for alcohol sales and assist with sensitive operations;
— community wardens play a role in
identifying retailers selling knives and alcohol to under 18s,
and awareness raising;
— licensing issues around alcohol sales,
including sale of counterfeit alcohol, are discussed through regular
meetings with the licensing team;
— the SPA card is issued to young people
through local schools; and
— display materials advertising the
card is sent out to retailers through the licensing process. The
council provides training materials for small retailers (under
the AgeCheck brand) to help train staff to age-check customers.
Our results:
— since April 2008, nearly a hundred
test purchases have been completed, and over 90% of retailers
refused to sell knives to underage buyers. This is the highest
level of test purchasing amongst all the London boroughs, as well
as the highest level of compliance; and
— the compliance rate for Southwark
retailers refusing underage sales has risen from 33% in 2004-05
to 75% in 2006-07.
12. WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH
OUR NEIGHBOURING
BOROUGHS
Southwark was instrumental in setting up the
Five Boroughs' Alliance, which has brought together Southwark,
Lambeth, Croydon, Lewisham and Greenwich to deliver a series of
strategic objectives to reduce gang, gun and weapon violence.
The objectives are: improving intelligence, prevention, reassurance,
enforcement and criminal justice. The Five Borough's Alliance
has established a cross border intelligence process, developed
a series of informative summits and new communication methods
and combined cross border operations.
Awareness raising sessions—supported by
New Destiny Trust, a charity tackling youth involvement in violence,
we have been delivering gangs and weapons awareness raising sessions
to staff across the council.
So far we have reached over 100 officers, including
housing, libraries, community wardens and senior managers.
These sessions:
— ensure a unified message;
— emphasise responsibility;
— raise awareness of support services
so that officers are well equipped to signpost; and
— recognise those who are parents and
raise awareness of what to do as parents.
Our next step is to introduce them for tenants
and residents associations.
FEEDBACK
"The session opened my eyes about views
of what's happening in our community and my impact can make a
difference. Excellent presentation".
"I learnt more about gang culture and issues
than the picture I get from the media. The session has given me
understanding of what I can contribute in prevention of crime".
"Great delivery kept me interested at all
times. I hope the message gets through and makes a difference".
13. SUMMARY
Our interventions are proving successful we
have seen reductions in recorded knife crime and gun enabled crime
and our recent residents survey conducted by MORI shows that the
levels of safety during the day and at night have increase.
However, our work is long terms. We recognise
that we are delivering a social change programme, not a criminal
justice one and as such we need to constantly review what we deliver,
how we deliver it and who delivers it.
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