LGA: Tackling gang violence requires local solutions

1 November 2011

Responding to the Government report Ending Gang and Youth Violence which was launched by Home Secretary Theresa May this afternoon, Cllr Mehboob Khan, Chairman of the Local Government Association's Safer Communities Board, said:

“Gangs who plague our towns and cities are not a new phenomenon, and as this report makes clear, it would be wrong to conclude that the summer riots offered any sort of evidence it is an increasing one.

“Young people who engage in gang culture and violence are only a very small minority, however they wreak harm and havoc not just on each other but across society.

“Councils have consistently been at the forefront of improving life for families and residents affected by gang crime while trying to steer the perpetrators away from such destructive lifestyles.

“Violence on the streets often starts with trouble in the home. Local authorities are best placed to get to the root of the problem through providing support – and where necessary, intervention – in the homes of dysfunctional families afflicted by addiction, domestic violence or long-term unemployment. This should also extend to putting councils rather than a national agency in charge of education for young people in custody.

“This report recognises that what works in one area may not be appropriate for another. Councils across the country have spearheaded a variety of innovative ways to tackle gang culture and social disorder and the proposed new task force for tackling gangs should harness the wealth of expertise local government workers have to offer.

“Local areas should be able to do even more to tackle the root causes of gang crime as long as the extra £10 million promised by the Home Office for 2011/12 allows for a flexible approach to solving local problems. Councillors and local police commanders will now be considering this offer carefully and working with residents to determine whether it is right for their area.”

Case studies:

Examples of work being done by local authorities to tackle gangs in their areas:

· The London Borough of Enfield runs a Gangs Action Group in partnership with Haringey Council and the police. More than 30 prominent gang members have been identified and each assigned a support plan tailored to their circumstances, aimed at encouraging them away from gang culture. From early 2012 gang members will be asked to sign an agreement to avoid gang activity. The scheme includes the involvement of senior police officers, health workers and the families of murder victims, replicating a similar approach taken in Glasgow. A course aimed at preventing women from becoming involved in gangs is also to be run in the area.

· Trafford Council's approach to dealing with violent gangs has led to a 60 per cent reduction in gun crime over the past two years. The council has treated the involvement of young people in violent gangs as a safeguarding and child protection issue. It has sought to identify those young people most at risk and provide them with specialist support to deter them from wanting to join a criminal gang. This has involved helping them to access employment advice, training, housing support, volunteer mentoring, community led mediation, and the delivery of cognitive-behavioural group work and one-to-one work. For those who do not accept support, Trafford has focussed upon robust enforcement measures including the use of a wide range of policing powers, Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, financial investigation and child protection powers.

· Waltham Forest Council launched a gangs prevention programme earlier this year called Enough is Enough. This innovative programme deals not only directly with gangs, but also with their families and surrounding communities. Support is tailored to the needs and problems of individual families and includes specialist advice on issues ranging from substance abuse to housing.

· Derby City Council works together with the police, an antisocial behaviour team, a youth offending team, Derbyshire Probation Service and Derby Homes among others as part of a Multi-Agency Gangs Team. The team has visited every secondary school and the majority of primary schools in the city as well as youth clubs, neighbourhood forums, scout groups and Sure Start parenting groups to talk about gangs. It works with charity groups to provide support for gang members who have suggested they wish to leave. It also works with prisoners prior to their release from custody to discourage them from becoming involved in criminal activity once they are released.

· Westminster City Council's 'Your Choice' gangs programme is designed to offer young people a clear choice between desisting from gangs or facing enforcement measures. It offers support from the council, voluntary sector and partners through a package of interventions, The scheme has been designed to better identify and share intelligence about gang members, and provide prevention programmes and early interventions with the support of parents to divert young people away from gang involvement. The scheme builds on good practice examples and information about what works including the Boston Ceasefire approach.

· Leicestershire County Council deploys street workers to engage with young people in areas identified as having high levels of antisocial behaviour. They try to get young people involved in sporting activities like football tournaments and sports leadership courses. More information on the IMPACT programme can be found here: http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/community/yjsc/youthjustice/yos_prevention.htmwww.leics.gov.uk/youthjustice

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