Agenda item

To consider a report on action by the Haringey Community Safety Partnership to address the issue of gangs, including Operation Shield, and an update from the Police Borough Commander on the role of the Police Service within this.                                                                  

Gareth Llywelyn-Roberts, the Offender Management Strategic Lead, reported that the Offender Management Unit was a single, co-located body.  It included the Integrated Gangs Unit which had a dual enforcement and engagement role.  It provided a single link to all support agencies and could mentor, support and intervene with individuals who wished to exit gangs.  Gang Exit Workers worked with a cohort of up to 70 gang affected individuals and a range of different partners. Re-offending by those on the programme had been reduced by 58%, including a reduction in the seriousness of offences committed. The retention rate was 89% and over 60% were in either education or employment. 

Operation Shield was an initiative that was aimed at reducing gang violence that involved a range of partners, led by the Police.  It targeted those individuals whose behaviour had the greatest negative impact on local communities.  It was underpinned by three key strands:

·         Consequences for Violence - identifying and focusing enforcement on those groups involved in the continuation of violent offences;

·         Community Voice -  mobilising local communities and key members to reinforce key moral messages that violence will not be tolerated;

·         Help for those who ask - allowing individuals the opportunity to exit from the criminal lifestyle.

A significant amount of drugs were distributed through gangs.  It was considered disrespectful to enter another gang’s area.  Violence was also often caused by individuals seeking to escalate disputes in order to progress their position or by drug users.  The vast majority of gang members were vulnerable and characterised by issues such as school exclusion and ADHD.  Work was being undertaken through schools and there was now a clear referral route. 

In answer to a question, Mr Llywelyn-Roberts stated that the Gang Intervention Model would not target people for enforcement on a ‘by association’ basis.  This was an issue which had been promoted by groups opposed to the Shield initiative. In all circumstances, enforcement action could only be taken against those who committed the offence. The Shield model was clear that where a trigger offence was committed this would in turn trigger the enforcement action against the whole group identified as being part of the ‘gang’ but this would only be for offences they had committed.  

In answer to a question, Mr Llywelyn-Roberts reported that 86% of offenders identified as gang members were young black men. There were also specific gangs that tended to have members from specific ethnic backgrounds i.e. Turkish, Albanian and Somali young people.  The ethnic disporportionality was well known and long standing.  Work was being undertaken with communities to assist in reducing the level of vulnerability of young people within them to becoming involved in gangs.  In respect of Operation Shield, it was noted that it was time limited.  What would come after it was important and consideration was being given to further preventative work. 

The Borough Commander reported that the Police in Haringey had a team of 20 officers working on gang related issues and also had access to the Trident team.  Whilst enforcement and deterrent could be effective in the short term, the issue that needed to be addressed was why young black men were committing acts of such extreme violence against each other.  Until this was addressed successfully, long term progress would not be made.

The Panel noted that the drivers were not just economic.  Some young people were coerced into becoming involved.  It was noted that only a relatively small proportion of gang members were under 15.  However, they could be groomed into becoming active gang members from that age and earlier. 

The Panel were of the view that the performance statistics were impressive but felt that further detail on the volume of offences involved would provide clearer context.  It was noted that it was not always clear whether offending groups were gangs or organised criminal networks and, in addition, many were active in a number of different boroughs.