Tackling gun and knife crime in Southwark

[20th February 2008]

UK charity, Crimestoppers, hopes to lead Southwark's young people away from a violent gang culture that has claimed so many lives, with the launch of its anti-gun and knife crime initiative in Southwark.

The launch will be held at the Ministry of Sound, Southwark, on Wednesday 20 February, 12pm – 2.00pm and will see a host of anti-crime themed performances by young people as well as special guests, Faith SFX and Grand Harmonic. There will be speeches from some of the project's Community Champions, including 20-year-old Chris Preddie who will be speaking about how he has turned his life around after his experiences with gangs and gun crime. Choice FM's DJ Rollo will be presenting awards to young people who are helping design a new anti-gun crime game for the Shadow CS website www.shadowcs.co.uk.

Community Champion, Chris Preddie, whose brother was shot dead four years ago in a drug-fuelled shoot-out, said: “We've been talking about Crimestoppers in my youth groups. They are surrounded by criminals on their estates and never knew there was anything they could do about it without being ‘found out'. Through my youth work, I want to encourage kids to call Crimestoppers before it's too late – so they don't have to grieve for any more murdered friends and brothers like I had to.”

Crimestoppers' Head of Youth, Phil Pyatt, added: “It's important to get the message out to young people that they can report any crime they witness in complete anonymity to Crimestoppers without fear of any repercussions or reprisals. By engaging young people in areas that interest them – like performing – we hope that they will understand the seriousness and the dangers of getting involved in gun and knife crime and spread the word to deter others from committing such violent acts.”

The £150,000 project, funded by the Home Office, began in September 2007 and has already seen a rise in the number of actionable calls from the Borough. The initiative provides educational resources on tackling gun and knife crime for schools and youth workers in the Southwark area. Forging partnerships with key organisations in the community, including the Gangs Intervention project, Community Street Wardens and Police Cadets, has helped to communicate to young people the dangers and devastation that gun and knife crime causes.

Catherine Devereaux, Community Co-ordinator, said: “The project has been a great success so far and we've managed to reach out to hundreds of young people in Southwark to show them that there is a way out of gangs, gun and knife crime. It's vital that young people know that they do not need choose a life of crime and by working in partnership with other community organisations, we have been able to reassure them that there is help and support available to them.”

The Community Affairs project will extend to the London Borough of Lambeth in April this year.

Ends

For further information contact Lisa Gains, Media Officer at Crimestoppers on 020 8254 3226 or lisa.gains@crimestoppers-uk.org .

Notes to editors

Crimestoppers is an independent charity dedicated to solving crimes and taking criminals off the streets. Around 17 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every five days is charged with murder.

Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received 960,000 actionable calls, resulting in nearly 83,000 arrests and charges. Over £100 million worth of property has been recovered and over £144 million worth of drugs.

Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.

Download the full press release.