Rising gun crime in Brixton: "what are we all doing about it"

[editor]

There's a meeting tonight (Oct 4th) hosted by SaferLambeth, Assembly hall, Town Hall, 8pm.

Meanwhile, here's a pic from a stroll down Coldharbour Lane;

http://www.urban75.org/brixton/features/images/shooting-board-03.jpg

More pics (and, sadly, more yellow incident boards) here (http://www.urban75.org/brixton/features/shooting-boards.html)

[hendo]

The meeting was attended by upwards of three hundred people at the Town Hall, some professionals, some with axes to grind, others simply concerned residents sick about what's happened.

It was firmly and competently chaired by Devon Thomas who introduced himself as a long term Brixton resident, a businessman, and Chair of the Brixton Forum. We were here, he said: "to discuss how to build a safer Lambeth". He was joined at the top table by Cllr Mark Bennett, the 'Cabinet Member for Community Safety', the Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Martin Bridger, and Jan Forson who was billed as from the 'Gun Crime Programme', more of which below.

Cllr Bennett described the recent shooting at McDonalds as 'a terrible event'. But the council was committed to working with the police, other agencies and the local community to improve the situation. He added that "Street Lighting is to be completely changed over the next couple of years" and claimed that "within three and a half years we will have changed people's perceptions of how safe they feel in Lambeth".

But he admitted that "as a Council we have been weak in Community Safety Issues" but "we will deliver services engaging young people". At this point he returned again to the idea of clean and well lit streets, and then remarked that the local authority was committed to working together with local agencies to stop "vulnerable people" in Brixton getting into problems so that "people just walking down the street will actually feel safe".

Then it was the turn of Chief Superintendent Bridger. Firstly, he said that the incidents at the Fridge and McD's were NOT connected. At the Fridge there were two Vietnamese victims who had been hurt in an incident based around what he called "a respect issue". He took great care to say that the incident had happened outside the club, the weapon was sourced and used outside the club; there was "no evidence that the firearms were in the club" and explicitly pointed out that there was no suggestion that the Fridge door security staff were incompetent.

He then turned to McDonalds and admitted he'd been "extremely shocked" by what had happened there. It was "a dreadful, dreadful thing". Two people had been arrested; his officers were continuing their investigation. But people in Lambeth should be proud of themselves, he said. "The response from the community has been superb".

Then he turned to the more general problem of firearms in Lambeth and said that when taking up his job he'd made a meeting laugh by saying that his intention was to rid Lambeth of guns. Why was that so, he asked. "There is nothing more debilitating to a community than the fear of gun crime".

"We do have a problem". But the police and others were trying something unique here that was not being tried elsewhere.

Over a year ago it seems that there was a review of some kind into the way Lambeth's various agencies (police, community workers and others), were dealing with Gun Crime. The resulting report was harshly critical, and had apparently made difficult reading for those immediately involved with the situation.

But out of this had come forth the Gun Crime Programme, until now a secret project, aimed at engaging young people either involved in or on the cusp of being involved in gun crime. The objective is to draw them back into the community, educate them and remotivate them.

"It is in the main young black boys who find themselves involved in this criminality" he said. But the courts were now signed up to the project, which seems to identify either actual or potential offenders and when/if they've been bailed, get them involved in retraining and into legitimate employment.

This programme was described as unique.

Jan Forson from the Gun Crime Programme explained to the meeting that her efforts were targetted at around fifty young people who seen as most at risk. "Young people had been disengaging" she added "their needs were not being met". In the past public money had been spent but the results weren't being made accountable.

Talking about other projects in the past which engaged young people in music making, she said: "Music, CD's...these were false promises. Young black males need educating, training and employment".

Time and again it was stressed that this new project had its roots in the community, involved people from the community, and wasn't simply being foisted on people.

Then the father of one of those shot in McDonald's rose to speak. People here "were living in despair and fear". He appealed to "each and everyone here to open our eyes and support the police in their work of reducing gun crime to zero". There was warm applause.

A lot of community workers and councillors then made sure they got their turn with the roving mike. One councillor claimed that the "Adventure Playground" in Railton Road, which another speaker said had been allowed to fall into disuse, was going to have significant funds spent on it and then claimed that it could be a site where London children could start their training for the 2012 Olympics - once Health and Safety Issues were sorted out.

A businessman asked why there were so many drug dealers allowed to work freely on CHL and in other places; the Chief Super replied that 570 people had been arrested since last December and that at virtually any given time in Brixton police station someone would be under arrest and being processed for drug dealing.

But he said the police faced a challenge from what he called "the wider court system". Time and time again offenders would be released, he claimed.

One resident who said he was confronted regularly by dealers on Somerleyton Road operating as early as 4am asked if Brixton was effectively a zone of tolerance for drug dealing, and at this there was a sound of lots of people around him agreeing. But the police officer denied that completely.

"I have taken a Positive Arrest Approach to Cannabis dealing" he said, and there had been significant seizures of crack cocaine in Lambeth recently.

The meeting broke up at just after ten; lots of things were said that were worthwhile and interesting by people dealing with young people involved with drugs and guns which I haven't recorded here; I certainly felt enlightened, but also aware that people in South London face a massive challenge, from education right through to law enforcement and the courts, if this dreadful situation is going to be sorted long term.

[Loki]

Cheers for that. Blimey, you're not bad at taking notes :eek:

[editor]

Excellent report Hendo: if it's alright with you, I'll add it to the end of my photo report.

[hendo]

Be my guest..

[editor]

Almightily rushed, but here it is: http://www.urban75.org/brixton/features/guns-meeting.html

Give me a shout if you want an email/web address added to yr credit.

Cheers!

[wiskey]

thanks hendo :)

i couldnt go as i was at work all eve.

[Mr Retro]

Sounds like a good meeting.

I like the sound of the Gun Crime Program. One discrepancy it seems to me, is 570 were arrested for drug dealing in 10 months but only about 50 people have been targeted by the program.

Are only 10% of the arrested drug dealers at risk from gun crime?

I know my point is simplistic and there are many other considerations to factor in (resources, willingness of participants, etc, etc) but this does seem an inconsistency.

[gaijingirl]

Great report Hendo - thanks! :)

[poster342002]

This sounds positive, so far. Lets hope it goes on to produce some concrete changes. I think there's definately a mood of "enough" making itself felt among Brixtoners in general following this awful incident.

[Ms T]

Good to know that you're putting all that early experience at council meetings to good use! Maybe you could get a part-time job at the SLP? :p

[detective-boy]

I like the sound of the Gun Crime Program. One discrepancy it seems to me, is 570 were arrested for drug dealing in 10 months but only about 50 people have been targeted by the program.

Are only 10% of the arrested drug dealers at risk from gun crime?
As I understand it the ones targetted by the programme are young people who are identified (by analysis of various risk factors) as being particularly likely to fall into the "guns are cool" mindset. They are NOT (quite emphatically NOT) the street dealers. They may not necessarily even have any actual convictions.

The project is essentially aimed at diversion.

Dealers involved with guns are far more likely to be the subject of proactive operations intended to achieve their arrest and conviction.

[CPCG]

"We do have a problem". But the police and others were trying something unique here that was not being tried elsewhere.

Over a year ago it seems that there was a review of some kind into the way Lambeth's various agencies (police, community workers and others), were dealing with Gun Crime. The resulting report was harshly critical, and had apparently made difficult reading for those immediately involved with the situation.

But out of this had come forth the Gun Crime Programme, until now a secret project, aimed at engaging young people either involved in or on the cusp of being involved in gun crime. The objective is to draw them back into the community, educate them and remotivate them.

"It is in the main young black boys who find themselves involved in this criminality" he said. But the courts were now signed up to the project, which seems to identify either actual or potential offenders and when/if they've been bailed, get them involved in retraining and into legitimate employment.

This programme was described as unique.

Jan Forson from the Gun Crime Programme explained to the meeting that her efforts were targetted at around fifty young people who seen as most at risk. "Young people had been disengaging" she added "their needs were not being met". In the past public money had been spent but the results weren't being made accountable.

Talking about other projects in the past which engaged young people in music making, she said: "Music, CD's...these were false promises. Young black males need educating, training and employment".

Time and again it was stressed that this new project had its roots in the community, involved people from the community, and wasn't simply being foisted on people.

There are more details of the Project Phoenix, The Gun Crime Initiative, here (http://www.downloads.lambethcpcg.org.uk/Gun%20Crime.pdf) and a more discursive description in this set of minutes (http://www.downloads.lambethcpcg.org.uk/Minutes%200604.pdf)(Minute 21 onwards). The project has not been 'secret' but not especially well publicised.

The report on which it was based, to which hendo referred, was commissioned by Martin Bridger when he arrived as borough commander in February 2005. It was salutary that Martin Bridger said that his report had identified that no agency had tackling the supply of firearms as its priority.

As detective boy says, it's not aimed at drug dealers but at a cohort of young people (mostly lads) who are identified by the local Youth Offending Team as being at risk of migrating into gun crime or already with involvement.

I arrived late from another meeting, so missed the formal speeches. I get the sense that not a lot was said that hasn't already been, but certainly for a lot of people there it might be the first time they heard it. The main virtue I felt was the show of concern from such a large number of people, at a meeting called at short notice, and from such a wide-variety of backgrounds and locations. It's as important that 'the community' (or communities) listens to itself as much as to the public agencies.

A very thorough report, hendo. Additional details, the panel also included Derek Anderson (relatively new CEO of Lambeth Council), the councillor who responded about the adventure playground was Rachel Heywood (Labour, Coldharbour) and Devon Thomas is chair of Brixton Business Forum.

[Gixxer1000]

As I understand it the ones targetted by the programme are young people who are identified (by analysis of various risk factors) as being particularly likely to fall into the "guns are cool" mindset. They are NOT (quite emphatically NOT) the street dealers. They may not necessarily even have any actual convictions.

Surely they also have a "drugs/get rich or die trying" mind set though?

[TeeJay]

...He added that "Street Lighting is to be completely changed over the next couple of years" and claimed that "within three and a half years we will have changed people's perceptions of how safe they feel in Lambeth"...This seems like a laughably feeble thing to say.

How exactly do 'clean and well lit' streets really make any difference to people get shot, and why should anyone trust the Lbaour or Lib Dems when between them they have been saying this crap every single year since the year dot?

While it is good that the police have their "Gun Crime Programme" isn't a bit of a joke when people say "young people need education" but there are no secondary schools in Lambeth? So much for 'joined up thinking'.
...One councillor claimed that the "Adventure Playground" in Railton Road, which another speaker said had been allowed to fall into disuse, was going to have significant funds spent on it and then claimed that it could be a site where London children could start their training for the 2012 Olympics - once Health and Safety Issues were sorted out...Again this is a laughable thing to say surely? Closing down leisure centres - and which councils /parties has it been letting the playground decline over the years? With 6 years to go what Olymipic events are 'kids' going to be training for at a small tarmaced playground in Railton Road? Is this person that deluded?
A businessman asked why there were so many drug dealers allowed to work freely on CHL and in other places; the Chief Super replied that 570 people had been arrested since last December and that at virtually any given time in Brixton police station someone would be under arrest and being processed for drug dealing.

But he said the police faced a challenge from what he called "the wider court system". Time and time again offenders would be released, he claimed.

One resident who said he was confronted regularly by dealers on Somerleyton Road operating as early as 4am asked if Brixton was effectively a zone of tolerance for drug dealing, and at this there was a sound of lots of people around him agreeing. But the police officer denied that completely.

"I have taken a Positive Arrest Approach to Cannabis dealing" he said, and there had been significant seizures of crack cocaine in Lambeth recently.This is the heart of it really. He can deny all he wants but it is obvious to everyone what the relaity is.

Lambeth has very high levels of violent crime, rape, muggings and serious drug related crimes - so my question is this: does it have a similar level of police officers and resources to match the crime rate?

Why has it been left to fester over the years and why are levels of crime tolerated in lambeth when they would be dealt with immediately if they happened out in Surrey or in a rich neighbourhood of London?

This is total bullshit. The police need to put the resources in to address these issues and they need to operate consistently and be as tough in Lambeth as they would be out in Surrey or any other part of London. They need to apply the resources that are needed to sort out these issues. If they don't have these resources they should go public with the information and let the public know exactly who is to blame for allowing this to carry on.

Ultimately therefore the blame falls on the political parties who have allowed this shite to carry on year after year - and I suppose also the blame falls on the public for not holding them to account and making this a big enough issue that it can't be ignored any more.

I get the impression that people are too fatalistic about what could be achived and they are too used to being treated like crap just because they are in a relatively poor part of London - they simply don't make the same demands from the police, public services and politicians that better off people expect and demand. Noone is held to account and there are no real consequences for the shoddy way that things are allowed to sink and fall apart. Public serives in lambeth are a joke - but maybe people wouldn't realise exactly how bad there are until they have experienced the halfway decent standards of crime, police response, public service and political responsiveness and accountability that you can find elsewhere (in areas where people are wealthier and really do not stand for this kind of shite).

[detective-boy]

Surely they also have a "drugs/get rich or die trying" mind set though?
That is what the project is trying to overcome before they are lost.

[Giles]

We need trained experts from the police to tell people that guns can be dangerous.

Like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhIJOVD8hwY

Giles..