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| Blair urges action against gangs | Blair urges action against gangs |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| There needs to be an "intense police focus" on the minority of young black Britons who are behind a spate of gun and knife attacks, Tony Blair has said. | There needs to be an "intense police focus" on the minority of young black Britons who are behind a spate of gun and knife attacks, Tony Blair has said. |
| He said laws on knife and gun-gangs needed to be toughened and the ringleaders "taken out of circulation". | He said laws on knife and gun-gangs needed to be toughened and the ringleaders "taken out of circulation". |
| In a speech, the prime minister added that most of the black community were "horrified at what is happening". | In a speech, the prime minister added that most of the black community were "horrified at what is happening". |
| But they needed to be "mobilised" in denouncing the gangs killing "innocent, young, black kids", he added. | But they needed to be "mobilised" in denouncing the gangs killing "innocent, young, black kids", he added. |
| He was speaking in the wake of a series of fatal shootings and stabbings of teenagers, many of them in London, this year. | |
| In a speech on regeneration in Cardiff, Mr Blair said recent "severe disorder" was not down to wider social problems but caused by individuals. | In a speech on regeneration in Cardiff, Mr Blair said recent "severe disorder" was not down to wider social problems but caused by individuals. |
| Secure accommodation | Secure accommodation |
| He said failing to stop the minority behind crime and anti-social behaviour was the "missing dimension" to an otherwise successful regeneration of towns and cities. | He said failing to stop the minority behind crime and anti-social behaviour was the "missing dimension" to an otherwise successful regeneration of towns and cities. |
| Earlier this month, getting someone to hide a weapon from the police became an offence under a range of measures brought forward in response to the incidents in the capital. | |
| As a society we are failing young black kids Commission for Racial Equality class="" href="/1/hi/england/london/6545143.stm">Call for school knife detectors | |
| Delivering the Callaghan Memorial Lecture, Mr Blair said of the knife-and gun-gangs: "There needs to be an intense police focus on these groups. | |
| "The ringleaders need to be identified and if necessary, taken out of circulation - if very young, as some are, put in secure accommodation." | "The ringleaders need to be identified and if necessary, taken out of circulation - if very young, as some are, put in secure accommodation." |
| Mr Blair said the vast majority of the black community are "decent, law-abiding people". | Mr Blair said the vast majority of the black community are "decent, law-abiding people". |
| But he added: "We won't stop this by pretending that it isn't young black kids doing it." | But he added: "We won't stop this by pretending that it isn't young black kids doing it." |
| The Commission for Racial Equality said people "shouldn't be afraid to talk about this issue for fear of sounding prejudiced". | |
| A spokesman said: "Unfortunately, it comes as no surprise that some young black men are becoming involved in gang cultures and criminal activities. | |
| "They do so because they feel that they have no choice and no future. | |
| "As a society we are failing young black kids. We mustn't place blame but ask why black children are more likely to live in poverty, be excluded from school and be stopped and searched by the police." |