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| Gang members in violence summit | Gang members in violence summit |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than 100 Glasgow gang members have taken part in talks with police as part of a US-inspired scheme to curb violence, it has emerged. | More than 100 Glasgow gang members have taken part in talks with police as part of a US-inspired scheme to curb violence, it has emerged. |
| About 150 gang members agreed to attend the sessions on "neutral ground" at the city's Sheriff Court in October. | About 150 gang members agreed to attend the sessions on "neutral ground" at the city's Sheriff Court in October. |
| They were confronted with the effects of gang violence and offered help to turn their lives around. | They were confronted with the effects of gang violence and offered help to turn their lives around. |
| More sessions have been planned in the hope of offering help to some 780 members of 55 gangs in Glasgow. | More sessions have been planned in the hope of offering help to some 780 members of 55 gangs in Glasgow. |
| The £5m Community Initiative to Reduce Violence is led by Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). | The £5m Community Initiative to Reduce Violence is led by Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). |
| It is based on the so-called "Boston Miracle", which reduced violent crime in the US city by about 50% in two years during the 1990s. | It is based on the so-called "Boston Miracle", which reduced violent crime in the US city by about 50% in two years during the 1990s. |
| The Boston Ceasefire Project saw gang members invited to meetings with police and church leaders where they were told things had to change. | The Boston Ceasefire Project saw gang members invited to meetings with police and church leaders where they were told things had to change. |
| Gang culture is deeply ingrained in parts of the city class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7778155.stm">Can Boston offer Glasgow a miracle? Those who embraced the chance were offered jobs, counselling and other forms of support. | |
| Gang members who ignored the message were threatened with longer, harsher sentences in federal prisons. | Gang members who ignored the message were threatened with longer, harsher sentences in federal prisons. |
| Scotland's VRU decided to use a similar approach earlier this year in Glasgow. | Scotland's VRU decided to use a similar approach earlier this year in Glasgow. |
| Working with Strathclyde Police, they invited 220 people along to Glasgow Sherriff Court on 24 October for a gang summit. | Working with Strathclyde Police, they invited 220 people along to Glasgow Sherriff Court on 24 October for a gang summit. |
| At least five people were invited from each of the 55 gangs targeted in the city. | At least five people were invited from each of the 55 gangs targeted in the city. |
| Two sessions were held - one in the morning for those aged 15 and under, and one in the afternoon for those aged 16 and over. | Two sessions were held - one in the morning for those aged 15 and under, and one in the afternoon for those aged 16 and over. |
| About 150 gang members agreed to attend and were brought to the court by minibus with police officers on board to stop any violence. | About 150 gang members agreed to attend and were brought to the court by minibus with police officers on board to stop any violence. |
| Pursuit warning | Pursuit warning |
| During a carefully scripted meeting the gang members heard from a senior police officer, an Accident and Emergency consultant, members of their community and the parent of a victim. | During a carefully scripted meeting the gang members heard from a senior police officer, an Accident and Emergency consultant, members of their community and the parent of a victim. |
| They were also shown an interactive map which identified Glasgow gangs, their members and the territory in which they operated. | They were also shown an interactive map which identified Glasgow gangs, their members and the territory in which they operated. |
| The senior police officer then told the gang members that if any of them - including members not present - committed an assault or murder, they would be pursued as a whole group. | The senior police officer then told the gang members that if any of them - including members not present - committed an assault or murder, they would be pursued as a whole group. |
| The VRU said this often had the effect of pushing gangs to police their own behaviour. | The VRU said this often had the effect of pushing gangs to police their own behaviour. |
| The law needs to be enforced but it's also time to try something new Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary At the end of each session, gang members were given the freephone number of a "one-stop shop" where they could access education, health services, careers advice and social services. | The law needs to be enforced but it's also time to try something new Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary At the end of each session, gang members were given the freephone number of a "one-stop shop" where they could access education, health services, careers advice and social services. |
| To date some 63 of the 150 gang members who attended the October sessions have taken up the offer of help, with more coming forward every day. | To date some 63 of the 150 gang members who attended the October sessions have taken up the offer of help, with more coming forward every day. |
| The VRU are planning to hold at least four more sessions until every member of the 55 city gangs targeted has attended. | The VRU are planning to hold at least four more sessions until every member of the 55 city gangs targeted has attended. |
| Det Ch Sup John Carnochan, head of VRU, said: "Gangs are not necessarily a bad thing - gangs are formed by people coming together with a common purpose, so Strathclyde Police is a gang, journalists are a gang, politicians are a gang. | Det Ch Sup John Carnochan, head of VRU, said: "Gangs are not necessarily a bad thing - gangs are formed by people coming together with a common purpose, so Strathclyde Police is a gang, journalists are a gang, politicians are a gang. |
| "It's what the gang does when it comes together that is the issue. If they were meeting to play football, or basketball, or baseball, no-one would mind. | "It's what the gang does when it comes together that is the issue. If they were meeting to play football, or basketball, or baseball, no-one would mind. |
| "But the reason they meet is violence, and that cannot and will not be tolerated." | "But the reason they meet is violence, and that cannot and will not be tolerated." |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "For too long now areas of Glasgow have been blighted by gangs and gang violence. | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "For too long now areas of Glasgow have been blighted by gangs and gang violence. |
| "But enough is enough. It cannot go on. The law needs to be enforced but it's also time to try something new, something bold, and sort the problem at source. | "But enough is enough. It cannot go on. The law needs to be enforced but it's also time to try something new, something bold, and sort the problem at source. |
| "I believe this initiative can make a difference and that is why the Scottish Government has invested £1.6m to make the project a reality." | "I believe this initiative can make a difference and that is why the Scottish Government has invested £1.6m to make the project a reality." |