Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Street Gang Culture - mediation to stop murder
Next month, a new gangs' mediation service called Capital Conflict Management will begin work in London to try to tackle the problem of gang related violence.
With £300,000 funding for two years, mediators will use the art of "straight-talking" to resolve potential conflict, liaising with gangs, community, police and councils.
The idea has been in practise in the West Midlands for the past five years where deaths reduced from 27 to three.
Full story on the BBC website
With £300,000 funding for two years, mediators will use the art of "straight-talking" to resolve potential conflict, liaising with gangs, community, police and councils.
The idea has been in practise in the West Midlands for the past five years where deaths reduced from 27 to three.
Full story on the BBC website
Tags for Forum Posts: street gangs
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Danzigger on
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I'm a bit wary of this idea. While I'm in favour of any initiative to reduce gang violence, creating a service to manage gang disputes gives them a legitimacy that they don't deserve. Doesn't this strengthen gang culture, when we should be trying to end it?
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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It's OK to have a dispute. In fact you're pretty boring if you don't. What I think they need teaching is a way to resolve their disputes without resorting to violence. After all, at work people are not allowed to punch me just because I oppose them or disagree with them. These young men are unemployable if they cannot grasp that one simple concept.
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It isn't OK to have a dispute about which gang "owns" a particular patch of ground, post code or housing estate. It isn't OK to have a dispute about who can deal drugs on a particular patch. Such disputes don't warrant mediation. Unfortunately I think that a lot of gang violence boils down to territorial issues.
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My cat would disagree with you but I guess I'm wavering.
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Permalink Reply by RJBurgon (artist) on
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LMAO :)
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Your absolutely right about what they need - but as a teacher I get tired of society looking to the education system to sort this mess out. Parents need to start supporting teachers in administering discipline - but also society has to face facts - if we don't like this tiny minority young people who get involved in gangs we should start looking at what might be wrong with a society that actively aims products at those sections of the young community that it KNOWS are unable to raise the funds to purchase them and likewise the celebrities that endorse them.
The other issues for these young people is lack of purpose and prospects - if u feel u have no control over ur future and environment - you exert control in ways that are attainable - territory for instance.
That isn't to say they need to be treated with kid gloves - in my experience thay DO respond to "Tough Love" but this needs to be coupled with a basic belief in young people - not simply the tarring of all with the tabloid-driven brush. Many young people drift into this lifestyle as a result of being wrongfully accused and figure they might as well give society a reason to vilify them. It also has to be recognised that the fear of being a victim drives many of this tiny minority to carry weapons. However I would be delusional if I said that they're all sweetness and light. I personally believe that even carrying a knife should carry an automatic custodial sentence - a measure ironically that many young people I talk to are in favour of.
Once these things happen - THEN education has a chance of giving these young people a sense of purpose and responsibilty.
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Permalink Reply by Sandi on
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Seriously, gangs and their cultures have, and will always exist in our society: mods, rockers, skinheads, etc. So has the violence that comes with it. Any initiative that attempts to reduce gang-violence and the loss of young lives through it, is a good thing. I would also hope that the reasons why so many young men feel the need to join, or indeed are brought up in gangs, are looked at.
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Permalink Reply by james walsh on
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Lets stop calling a group of ordinary children GANGS. They are not real gangs. as an experiment i would like to see one of these 'gang' members transported (magically) instantly to a street in south central L.A. or the bronx for a few hours ALONE and at night. i'm sure this 'gang' member would beg to be brought home to mummy.
(i'm only teasing but you know what i mean)
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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The postcode gang culture mirrors that of LA and other American cities. It's another negative cultural US import. Like a virus it attaches itself to rundown neighbourhoods across our country where poverty sucks the optimism out of even the youngest children. Broken homes, generations of joblessness, failing schools and a lack of amenities, poor housing all contribute to produce children with little hope.
And then along comes a gang. Somewhere they can belong, call their own, show their worth, make some money, friends and just while the time away .... day in, day out. Then the virus mutates to the next poor neighbourhood and the next.
Gangs exist because of failing housing policy (few new homes built), failing education policy (apprenticeships need to return), failing employment and regional development policy (postcode investment lottery must be seen off with a massive stimulus package tied to apprenticeship schemes).
Then the gangs might (one day) self destruct.
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