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COPS TARGET KIDS IN GANG CRACKDOWN
Children as young as 10 face home visits in early intervention tactic
POLICE are targeting children as young as 10 in fly-by-night visits as part of a new strategy to cut off the supply chain to the borough’s postcode gangs.
Parents of youngsters suspected of associating with gang members will receive a “warning visit” in what represents a softly-softly approach to a problem that sees young recruits lured into gangs in playgrounds and housing estates in the north of the borough.
Suggestions that the tactic amounts to a “McCarthyist” witchhunt have been strongly rebuffed by police.
They have assured parents that they will only act on “good intelligence”, and that the strategy will tackle the root of the gang problem that is ensnaring younger and younger children.
The new tactic comes just weeks after Westminster Police were severely criticised by the police watchdog Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) for lacking an “intelligence culture” and poor management.
While police do not use the term “gang” publicly – they say it only glamorises crime, preferring “group” – they recognise at least half-a-dozen gangs affiliated with large housing estates in north Westminster. For the main they are involved in low-level youth disorder, but some have ties with more established drug dealing gangs.
Among them are Lisson Green Mandem, Abbey Road Man Dem, the SD Crew and Queen’s Park Man Dem.
Detective Superintendent Peter Newman from Paddington Green police station is overseeing the new strategy, which will also include an increase in stop-and-searches and a strict “leave no stone unturned” approach to drugs.
He said: “This new strategy is about early intervention rather than reacting to problems. It’s important to say that youth disorder is down in the borough, but that doesn’t mean we should rest on our laurels.
“We are going to follow up every bit of intelligence. If there’s a rumour that someone is hanging around with a gang member we will pay them a visit to let them know we’re on to them and that they are not anonymous, even if they haven’t committed a criminal offence. It’s not sinister, it’s good community policing and it works.”
Knife crime offences are up more than 50 per cent from last year, with 52 recorded in April.
Peter Russell, chairman of Westmisnter North Community Police Consultative Group, said: ‘I think parents will be grateful for knowing if their kid has fallen in with the wrong crowd. Prevention is better than cure.
“I’m sure some people won’t like it, and obviously it has to be done sensitively, but I think it is to be welcomed.”
preferring “group” – they recognise at least half-a-dozen gangs affiliated with large housing estates in north Westminster. For the main they are involved in low-level youth disorder, but some have ties with more established drug dealing gangs.
Among them are Lisson Green Man Dem, Abbey Road Man Dem, the SD Crew and Queen’s Park Man Dem.
Detective Superintendent Peter Newman from Paddington Green police station is overseeing the new strategy, which will also include an increase in stop-and-searches and a strict “leave no stone unturned” approach to drugs.
He said: “This new strategy is about early intervention rather than reacting to problems. It’s important to say that youth disorder is down in the borough, but that doesn’t mean we should rest on our laurels.
“We are going to follow up every bit of intelligence.
“If there’s a rumour that someone is hanging around with a gang member we will pay them a visit. It’s not sinister, it’s good community policing and it works.”
Knife crime offences are up more than 50 per cent from last year, with 52 recorded in April.
Peter Russell, chairman of Westminster North Community Police Consultative Group, said: “I think parents will be grateful for knowing if their kid has fallen in with the wrong crowd. Prevention is better than cure.” |
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