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Gang crime reduction efforts working - Theresa May Gang crime reduction efforts working - Theresa May
(about 3 hours later)
A drive to combat gang crime in England's worst-affected areas is "working", the home secretary has said. The government has hailed progress in tackling gang crime in English cities.
Introducing a report on Ending Gang and Youth Violence - set up after the 2011 riots - Theresa May said it was giving "effective leadership" against gangs. A report published later will say a drive to tackle gang and youth violence following the 2011 riots is working.
The report, seen by BBC Radio 4's Today programme, highlighted a fall in youth violence among its successes. But the report acknowledges that a fall in youth violence can not necessarily be attributed to the programme, while campaigners and former gang members say more needs to be done.
But both Mrs May and the report conceded this could not be definitely attributed to the programme. Figures in the target areas suggest wounding with knives and attempted murders are down.
The BBC's Sima Kotecha said critics of the government said crime figures were going down anyway. However there was one more gang-related homicide - which includes murder and manslaughter - recorded in 2012/13, than in a 2011/12 study.
And our correspondent added campaigners were worried ministers were not seeing the whole picture because they did not have "knowledge and understanding of urban life". Tension not changed
'Picture is positive' Introducing the Ending Gang and Youth Violence report, seen by BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Home Secretary Theresa May said it was giving "effective leadership" against the problem.
The programme - which aims to offer "support" rather than "top-down direction" - now covers 33 "priority areas" where gang crime is considered a major problem. But Sheldon Thomas, a former gang member and founder of the charity GangLine, said: "The tension amongst gang members has never changed in the last seven to eight years."
He criticised "bureaucrats and public sector workers" who he said were driven by statistics and targets.
"It doesn't reflect the feelings of the community," he told the BBC.
The initiative - which aims to offer support rather than "top-down direction" - covers 33 priority areas where gang crime is considered a major problem.
Of these, 20 are in Greater London, three in Greater Manchester, three in the West Midlands and two in Merseyside. The others are Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham.Of these, 20 are in Greater London, three in Greater Manchester, three in the West Midlands and two in Merseyside. The others are Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham.
In 2012-13, the number of knife-related wounding offences involving 10-19-year-olds in programme areas fell by about 25% - from 589 to 439 offences - compared with 2011-12. This followed a 9% drop in the previous 12 months. In 2012-13, the number of knife-related wounding offences involving 10-19-year-olds in programme areas fell by about 25% - from 589 to 439 offences - compared with 2011-12.
This followed a 9% drop in the previous 12 months.
Sexual exploitation risk
Across the 29 areas originally covered by the programme, the number of homicides rose by one to 15 in 2012-13, while the number of attempted murders fell by 15 to 18.
The report notes: "While we cannot link these reductions directly to the programme, the picture is positive."The report notes: "While we cannot link these reductions directly to the programme, the picture is positive."
Across the 29 areas originally covered by the programme, the number of homicides (murder or manslaughter) rose by one to 15 in 2012-13, while the number of attempted murders fell by 15 to 18. And the BBC's Sima Kotecha said critics of the government said crime figures were going down anyway.
Danny Kruger, a former speech writer for David Cameron, said: "There's only so much that the police can do to disrupt gang activity."
Mr Kruger, who now runs youth charity Only Connect told BBC Breakfast: "Really it's about people getting around our young people and giving them a sense of belonging in mainstream society."
Campaigners said they were worried ministers had failed to see the whole picture because they did not have "knowledge and understanding of urban life".
"People keep telling me things are getting better," said Patrick Regan from the youth charity XLP.
"But I'm looking out my window and seeing that actually things are still really, really tough."
He said young people were coming to the charity wearing stab-proof vests and pointed to a report suggesting 16,500 young people were at risk of sexual exploitation by gangs.
Damian, a former member of a notorious London gang, told the Today programme: "It's a lot harder to make money now.
"You've got to be a lot more ruthless nowadays."
'Picture is positive'
The report is the second annual update to the Ending Gang and Youth Violence report published in November 2011.The report is the second annual update to the Ending Gang and Youth Violence report published in November 2011.
It lists numerous achievements over the last 12 months including:It lists numerous achievements over the last 12 months including:
The report says "key local contacts" in the priority areas feel their locations have "benefitted from being part of the programme".The report says "key local contacts" in the priority areas feel their locations have "benefitted from being part of the programme".
The document also outlines some future plans for the programme, including increasing prosecutions for violence committed in custody.The document also outlines some future plans for the programme, including increasing prosecutions for violence committed in custody.
"We are taking forward legislation to introduce a new firearms offence of 'possession with intent to supply' in the Crime and Courts Bill, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment," it adds."We are taking forward legislation to introduce a new firearms offence of 'possession with intent to supply' in the Crime and Courts Bill, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment," it adds.
Mrs May said a "crucial part" of the programme's work was offering gang members "viable alternatives to a self-destructive and violent way of life". Mrs May said a crucial part of the programme's work was offering gang members "viable alternatives to a self-destructive and violent way of life".
"The initiative is working, the crimes that the programme aims to tackle are diminishing," she said."The initiative is working, the crimes that the programme aims to tackle are diminishing," she said.
"The programme has led to more effective leadership and a greater sense of strategic direction.""The programme has led to more effective leadership and a greater sense of strategic direction."