Gang experts sent in to street grudges escalate Make peace before into bloody violence
MET POLICE chiefs are hiring street gang experts to mediate between rivals before grudges escalate into bloodshed.
The force has put a contract out to tender for a provider of “gang mediation conflict management services” as it tries to stem a rise in youth and gang violence.
The top brass want to outsource the job to a team of professionals who “understand London’s gang landscape” and are willing to mediate between violent youths locked in bloody postcode wars with rival outfits.
They hope it could stem a rise in youth violence and murders that are often sparked by tit-for-tat spats on social media.
A tender notice published last month said it would be a £250,000 two-year contract starting in June.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Hill, in charge of reducing violence across the capital, said: “Although our officers have been involved in diversionary work, we also understand the need for intervention from other organisations, who have a good understanding of London’s gang landscape, and with a track record in complex mediation.
“Independent gang mediation will help to resolve and de-escalate conflict among groups, and act as a preventative measure.”
The tender notice states: “The contracting authority is tendering for the provision of gang mediation – conflict management services following a significant increase
‘Independent gang mediation will help de-escalate conflict’
in serious youth violence, serious injuries and murders, frequently associated with gang issues.
“The service provider must demonstrate a proven track record.
“The supplier’s mediators should understand London’s gang landscape and the fact that these are in the main the client group they will need to mediate with.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the successful provider will be expected to work with individuals who are associated with or members of gangs.”
The advert acknowledges that mediators could be at risk themselves by carrying out such work.
It went on to say those applying need to understand “the difficulties of mediating between rival gang members and the risk this can pose to clients”.
The advert added: “The primary objective of the service is the prevention of death and serious injury through the effective engagement and problem solving between the parties concerned.
“Conflict management is an intervention tactic that aims to reduce gang-related violence between individuals. The aim
of the intervention is to reduce violence by overseeing and assisting communication between one or more conflicting parties.
“Each case referred to the service provider will be unique.”
Under the plan, the Met would make a referral to the mediators, if it felt it could prevent an escalating situation, “who will subsequently mediate between the conflicting parties with a
view to achieving a reduction in hostilities and providing a route for individuals to access other organisations for further support if needed”.
DCS Hill added: “Tackling violence in all its forms is one of the Met’s key priorities.
“We know that gang-related violence is funded by criminality and causes misery to communities – we share their concerns.
“We have dedicated teams working to dismantle the gangs in London by targeting those involved and ending their criminal operations by seizing their cash, drugs and weaponry. Our efforts are multi-faceted, from prevention and through to enforcement.
“This includes, county lines intensification work, and surge activity where we focus our resources in known hot-spot locations where violence takes place, using innovative tactics and high visibility patrols to keep Londoners safe.
“In addition, we continue to work with our partners and communities to drive down violence and find meaningful solutions to a complex issue.”
The force already has an “Engage” sys
diversion work
tem running in custody suites that sees youth workers and former gang members embedded at police stations to offer those detained for drugs, weapons, thefts and minor assaults a route into education, training, apprenticeship and employment opportunities.
The scheme has helped well over 2,000 people since 2020.
Once the mediation contract is signed off, the new mediators will be expected to have access to similar diversionary schemes.
Any successful bidder would also support
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s Crime Reduction Board and his office’s strategic ambitions for tackling gangs by providing intervention to victims of youth and gangrelated violence.
Last night, a spokesman for the Mr Khan’s office told the Sunday Express: “This is a Met tender, but City Hall will look to work with the successful organisation to ensure their work complements ongoing efforts to support young victims of violence and exploitation.”