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Safe houses call for gang members Safe houses call for gang members
(about 2 hours later)
Young black gang members wanting to escape criminal life should have access to "safe houses", MPs have suggested. Gang members who want to escape a life of crime should have access to "safe houses", MPs have suggested.
The all-party Commons home affairs select committee said living at a secret address could protect such youngsters from reprisals. The Commons home affairs committee said living at a secret address could protect them from reprisals.
The idea is part of a call for a national strategy to ensure black people are treated fairly by the justice, education and welfare systems. It is also calling for a national strategy to cut the number of young black people involved in crime.
MP John Denham said government policy had not had "any significant impact". It blamed social exclusion, absent fathers, lack of role models and the influence of 'gangsta rap' although it said censorship was not the answer.
Mr Denham, chairman of the all-party committee, said: "We think there needs to be a closer attention on the way we can enable young people to escape from involvement in criminal groups and criminal activities. It said there was "evidence to support allegations of direct or indirect discrimination in policing and the youth justice system".
But it added: "The perception as well as the reality of discrimination has an impact.
"Lack of confidence in the criminal justice system may mean some young black people take the law into their own hands or carry weapons in an attempt to distribute justice and ensure their own personal safety."
'Stop and search'
Committee chairman John Denham said there was no evidence young black people committed more crime than other groups.
But they were arrested more for certain types of crime, including robbery, drug and gun offences. They were also more likely to be the victims of violent crime.
There are many cases where young people who will have been involved in crime will wish to move out of it John DenhamHome Affairs committee chairmanThere are many cases where young people who will have been involved in crime will wish to move out of it John DenhamHome Affairs committee chairman
The committee also warned about the effect of police "stop and search" policies on black community relations.
It found that three in four young black men would soon be on the national DNA database.
It was therefore "an advantage to be a white criminal because you are less likely to be on the DNA database," said Mr Denham, who called for a government investigation into the issue.
He said the committee did not want a strategy of "letting black people off crimes they have committed" but it did want to ensure "all communities" were treated fairly by the criminal justice, education and welfare systems.
"We think there needs to be a closer attention on the way we can enable young people to escape from involvement in criminal groups and criminal activities.
"Safe houses were one of the ideas that we thought was worthy of study."Safe houses were one of the ideas that we thought was worthy of study.
"Young people's behaviour changes and there are many cases where young people who will have been involved in crime will wish to move out of it.""Young people's behaviour changes and there are many cases where young people who will have been involved in crime will wish to move out of it."
The report calls for a national strategy to ensure black people are treated fairly by the criminal justice, education and welfare systems. 'Gangsta rap'
Mr Denham said there was no evidence young black people committed more crime than other groups, but they were arrested more for certain types of crime, including robbery, drug and gun offences. They were also more likely to be the victims of violent crime. Social exclusion was the biggest factor in young black crime, said Mr Denham, but a "lack of father involvement and...other parenting issues" also needed to be tackled.
He said the committee did not want a strategy of "letting black people off crimes they have committed" but wanted to "bring everyone into kilter across all communities".
The committee looked at why young black people are more likely than other races to be stopped by police, arrested, convicted and jailed.
Social exclusion was a key factor in young black people being over-represented in the criminal justice system, with a "lack of father involvement and...other parenting issues" also featuring, the committee said.
Gangsta rap
While 22% of white British children were in single-parent families, the report said 59% of black Caribbean children were in the same situation.
Lacking positive male role models, many young black men look to music and films that glamorise violent lifestyles, the committee said.Lacking positive male role models, many young black men look to music and films that glamorise violent lifestyles, the committee said.
But it said that censoring "gangsta rap", hip hop music and other art forms would be "undesirable and impractical".But it said that censoring "gangsta rap", hip hop music and other art forms would be "undesirable and impractical".
It called for a more responsible approach from broadcasters who it said should work with young people on putting out a more positive message.
The committee also suggested that "internal exclusion" for disruptive schools pupils be developed.The committee also suggested that "internal exclusion" for disruptive schools pupils be developed.
"Internal exclusion" involves allowing disruptive pupils to remain in school, but separated from other pupils during lessons and breaks."Internal exclusion" involves allowing disruptive pupils to remain in school, but separated from other pupils during lessons and breaks.
White criminal 'advantage' 'Blair failure'
Mr Denham also highlighted research which suggested three in four young black men would soon be on the national DNA database. Some witnesses told the committee the media was to blame for negative portrayals of young black people.
This meant it was "an advantage to be a white criminal because you are less likely to be on the DNA database," said Mr Denham, who called for a government investigation into the issue. But Opinion Leader research commissioned by the MPs suggested most people rejected racial stereotypes.
Some witnesses to the committees were concerned about media distortion of young black people's involvement in crime - but research commissioned by the MPs suggested most members of the public rejected racial stereotypes. Conservative home affairs spokesman James Brokenshire said: "Despite the prime minister's promises, soaring crime rates show that Tony Blair has failed to be tough on crime.
Opinion Leader focus groups carried out in four cities in England and Wales in November 2006 found that "while the media often makes a connection between young black people and criminal behaviour, this link does not feature strongly in the public's consciousness....most are keen to reject racial stereotyping."
The Conservatives said the report showed Prime Minister Tony Blair had failed to get "tough on crime".
Tory home affairs spokesman James Brokenshire said: "Despite the prime minister's promises, soaring crime rates show that Tony Blair has failed to be tough on crime.
"Evidence like this demonstrates equal failure on dealing with the causes of crime.""Evidence like this demonstrates equal failure on dealing with the causes of crime."