Zero-tolerance to gang violence

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
16/07/2008

Violent teenagers are being targeted in a sustained zero tolerance crackdown against youth crime and gangs in the borough.

60 youths suspected of being involved in Hammersmith & Fulham gangs have been identified and have either been locked up or are being monitored by police and council officers. 

In a proactive move, to stop the problem before it has a chance to take root, £100,000 is being pumped into an early intervention scheme to steer youths onto the straight and narrow before they get sucked into a life of gang violence.

The news comes as four teenagers were locked up following a vicious gang attack that left a youngster cowering for his life. The incident took place in Shepherds Bush in February 2007 when the yobs chased their prey into in a textile shop. Once inside, they attacked their victim with a ladder before throwing boiling water over him.

Councillor Greg Smith, H&F Cabinet Member for Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour, says, “Where in the past offences may have been overlooked by the courts, we are now successfully pushing for gang-related activity to be taken into account. Dozens of gang members are now behind bars where otherwise they might not have been.”

At the Central Criminal Court last month, June 26, 16 year-old Michael Perry was sentenced to four years in a youth offenders institute for his part in the savage attack. Ben Broom and Akelle Charles, both aged 17, were jailed for two years and Sean Patterson, 18, was sentenced to three years.

Sentencing them, Judge Christopher Moss QC, said: “All four represent a serious risk. They have put the public in fear for their safety with their intimidating and violent behaviour. Gangs cause a fear of violence and this court must act severely.”

In the same week as the four teenagers started their sentences the Youth Task Force reported its findings. The Youth Task Force was set up after the brutal murder of Kodjo Yenga in Hammersmith Grove on March 14, 2007. 

Chaired by Sir William Atkinson, Head teacher of Phoenix High School the task force looked as ways to improve the safety and security of young people in the borough. They found that, ‘youth violence and gangs are a significant problem but are confined to a small number of young people.’ Key recommendations include better enforcement, intelligence, prevention and engagement with young people.

In the coming months the work of the Youth Task Force will be looked at by the Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Commission.

Cllr Smith continues: “Kodjo's death shocked all of us in Hammersmith & Fulham and the Youth Task Force has made progress, using the experience of teachers, youth workers, community leaders and ordinary people, but these are deep-set issues which go beyond the borough boundaries.

“Of course there is a role to be played by those running youth offending schemes and early intervention projects. The youth offending service supervises all young people given a community or custodial sentence in H&F. Offending is challenged, education and training provided, drugs or mental health needs are addressed and positive ways to resolve problems are found. They have countless successes in helping young people be responsible for their actions and steer them away from a life of crime.

“But we do need to address the spiral of deprivation and alienation that a small minority of children and families get caught up in, where violence, drugs and gang culture can become substitutes where family support has broken down. 

"This council has made the creation of more mixed, sustainable communities a top priority. Good quality homes and new opportunities will create a culture where gangs are no longer relevant. We need to end the culture of hopelessness, dependency and, in a small minority of cases, violence that ruins people’s lives. 

“Specifically, on youth crime we will continue to focus on intensive early intervention to help parents break the hold gangs have over a minority of children. If that fails, we take a zero-tolerance approach and youths who do fall into a cycle of violence will be locked up.”

Last month, Operation Blunt saw 19 people arrested for carrying a weapon. A community meeting is being held on Thursday, 31 July at 6pm at the Emerald Centre, Beadon Rd W6. The meeting has been organised by a local resident and community representative from the Youth Task Force. The meeting will be attended by senior council and police officers to talk about the findings of the report and will give members of the public an opportunity to ask questions and hear what the council and its partners are doing regarding tackling youth crime in the borough.