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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 26 April 2007

Somali work must go on

• IN the light of your report on the stabbing of Mahir Osman and the moving words of Somali youth workers (Three guilty of cruel stabbing, April 19), it is really important that new Town Hall administration in Camden Council continues to support work with the Somali community just as the previous administration did.
In the weeks following the attack Camden equalities officers, the then Leader Raj Chada and myself met with the community in open and closed sessions to try and tackle the aftermath of this tragic event.
A cross-border meeting was held at the Finsbury Park Mosque with the Somali community from both boroughs to get to the bottom of this conflict.
What was immediately clear from this was that it was not just a Camden issue. In particular, there was (a) poor communication on community safety issues between Haringey and officers in Camden about incidents in Enfield, Tottenham and Haringey and (b) the lack of a strategic view on how give young people positive opportunities other than hanging out on the streets.
Coming out of these meetings were the need to fund role models for these young men, along the lines of nationally-recognised work Camden already undertook with the Bangladeshi community a few years ago. Since May I am concerned that the focus has fallen down the list of priorities. I am wrong and will be seeking assurances from the council that this is not the case.
Cllr THEO BLACKWELL
(Lab) Former Executive member for Equalities and Community Development
(2003-2006)

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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