£2m package in bid to tackle gangs and violence

A £2 MILLION package of measures to tackle gangs and violence in Birmingham, including the rollout of police cadet forces, will be unveiled today.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson will also publish a detailed report into Birmingham gangs, including proposals to deal with them. Measures will include: Bringing in expert negotiators to arrange ceasefires and peace deals between gangs;

A mentoring scheme to guide youngsters at risk of offending;

More support for ex-offenders to find work and make a fresh law-abiding start after prison

Activities for teenagers at risk of school exclusion or offending, such as the police cadets.

The Birmingham Gangs and Violence Commission, set up by the Commissioner, has spent two years gathering evidence.

As well as police, social workers, probation officers and schools, ex-offenders and grieving families have been interviewed. “One thing which struck me was the helplessness of some mothers whose teenage boys are getting more difficult,” said Commissioner Jamieson.

“It’s more than they can cope with. They feel disempowered, they need support.”

A lot of activity will be focused on young boys aged about 13, who are on the brink of joining gangs. “The vast majority of young people are good children who work hard at school and do what their parents tell them,” said the Commissioner.

“But there is a significant minority who perhaps are being ex-cluded from school, playing truant and their only male role model may be a drug dealer.”

He hopes to recruit mentors who, from similar backgrounds, have been successful in life as better role models.

And he has already started guiding youngsters into police cadet groups – “providing a new gang” for them.

Already 70 have joined groups in Aston and Smethwick, and there are plans to launch more.

“In years gone by we’ve made big strides in reducing violence on our streets, only to see some of those improvements slip away in recent years.” said Mr Jamieson. “As a society we must treat this issue with the consistency that we do terrorism or child safeguarding.

“Our response must not cease once the current spike in violent crime is under control.”