This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25360687
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Fall in violence welcomed as campaigners say more to do | Fall in violence welcomed as campaigners say more to do |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government has hailed progress in tackling gang crime in English cities. | The government has hailed progress in tackling gang crime in English cities. |
| A Home Office report highlighted a fall in wounding with knives and attempted murder since the riots in England two years ago. | A Home Office report highlighted a fall in wounding with knives and attempted murder since the riots in England two years ago. |
| But it said the drops could not be attributed to a government programme set-up in the wake of the riots, while campaigners and former gang members said more needed to be done. | But it said the drops could not be attributed to a government programme set-up in the wake of the riots, while campaigners and former gang members said more needed to be done. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May said the initiative was working. | Home Secretary Theresa May said the initiative was working. |
| Figures in the target areas suggest wounding with knives and attempted murders are down. | Figures in the target areas suggest wounding with knives and attempted murders are down. |
| However there was one more gang-related homicide - which includes murder and manslaughter - recorded in 2012/13, than in a 2011/12 study. | However there was one more gang-related homicide - which includes murder and manslaughter - recorded in 2012/13, than in a 2011/12 study. |
| Sense of belonging | Sense of belonging |
| Introducing the Ending Gang and Youth Violence report the home secretary said it was giving "effective leadership" against the problem. | Introducing the Ending Gang and Youth Violence report the home secretary said it was giving "effective leadership" against the problem. |
| But Sheldon Thomas, a former gang member and founder of the charity Gangsline, 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | This followed a 9% drop in the previous 12 months. |
| 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. | 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. |
| But the report notes it "was not designed to evaluate the impact of the Ending Gang and Youth Violence programme on local crime levels," and it warns any changes in crime statistics can "not be directly attributed to the programme". | But the report notes it "was not designed to evaluate the impact of the Ending Gang and Youth Violence programme on local crime levels," and it warns any changes in crime statistics can "not be directly attributed to the programme". |
| And the BBC's Sima Kotecha said critics of the government said crime figures were going down anyway. | And the BBC's Sima Kotecha said critics of the government said crime figures were going down anyway. |
| Home Office minister Norman Baker told BBC Radio 5 live: "We're doing some of the right things that are helping. | Home Office minister Norman Baker told BBC Radio 5 live: "We're doing some of the right things that are helping. |
| "We're not going to say we're responsible for everything going right." | "We're not going to say we're responsible for everything going right." |
| Danny Kruger, a former speech writer for David Cameron, said: "There's only so much that the police can do to disrupt gang activity." | 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." | 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". | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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." | "You've got to be a lot more ruthless nowadays." |
| Shaun Bailey, a former adviser to the Conservatives on youth and race issues, told BBC News: "If you are close to the gang situation, then violence hasn't subsided. It's probably worse." | Shaun Bailey, a former adviser to the Conservatives on youth and race issues, told BBC News: "If you are close to the gang situation, then violence hasn't subsided. It's probably worse." |
| 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: |
| 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." |