Minutes:
The Gangs Sub Group Update was given by Superintendent David Tait.
It was noted that the Gangs Sub Group had met on the 27th May 2015 at Bromley Police Station.
The Gangs Sub Group consisted of:
· David Tait—Bromley Police
· Peter Sibley—LBB Anti-Social Behaviour and Gangs Lead Officer
· Barbara Godfrey—Oxley NHS Trust
· Pat Jennings—LBB Youth Offending Services Manager
· Jane Bailey—LBB Assistant Director of Education
· Kevin Clarke—Bromley Police
· Kay Weiss—LBB AD of Children’s Safeguarding and Social Care
· Sara Bowrey—LBB AD Housing Needs
Superintendent Tait explained to the Board that the main driver for the formation of the Gangs Sub Group was the Peer Review report on Gangs that had come from the Home Office. An action plan had been formulated from the recommendations of the report, and 15 actions had been identified to progress—some of these had already been undertaken. The 15 action points had been detailed in a report tabled by Superintendent Tait at the meeting. Actions that had already been progressed included the mapping of gang activity and the increase the size of the Police Gangs Unit, and challenging the behaviour of young people where appropriate.
Superintendent Tait had formulated a strategy for dealing with gangs, and the key aspects of this strategy were:
· Prevention
· Intervention
· Enforcement
· Leadership
· Co-ordination
It had been decided that Jane Bailey would lead on Prevention; Pat Jennings on Intervention; Davit Tait on enforcement and that the Gangs Sub Group would collectively own Leadership and Co-ordination.
Superintendent Tait briefed the Group concerning an organisation that he had contacted called Growing Against Violence (GAV). GAV was the largest serious violence prevention initiative of its kind in the UK. It was a public health and safety programme, delivering evidence based preventative education sessions. It provided age appropriate sessions delivered universally to students in school years 6 through to 10.
A document had been tabled by Superintendent Tait that outlined the GAV curriculum:
1. Friends vs Friendly (Year 6)
2. Gangs: Myths v Realities (Year 7)
3. Knives: Choices and Consequences (Year 7)
4. Anti-Social Media: What happens online can hurt you offline (Year8/9)
5. Stop & Search (Year 8/9)
6. Girls, Gangs & Consequences (Year 10)
7. Parent and Family Session
8. Professional Session
The Group heard that GAV had been approached for quotation, and the full package was costed at £10k. It was felt however, that the full, package was not required, and that a package estimated at £7K would be sufficient. The Police would be able to contribute £2k, which would leave the rest of the SBP Strategic Group to find the remaining £5K. It was expected that 600 young people would be targeted in the right areas and ages. Superintendent Tait was strongly in favour of going ahead and using GAV.
The Executive Director for Environmental and Community Services asked what overlap there may be with the “Prevent Programme”, which was a programme designed to prevent the radicalisation of young people to Islamic fundamentalism. The Superintendent felt that there would not be significant overlap. The Group agreed in principle to use the services of GAV, and to source the remaining funding required. Lisa Moore suggested that the St Giles Trust and “Catch 22” may be able to be approached to assist with funding.
Anne Ball (MOPAC) informed the Group that MOPAC would be looking to fund a “Gangs Exit Service” in July. Ms Ball promised to forward details of the bidding process to the Group in due course.
It was AGREED that:
(1) The SBP Strategic Group would seek to employ the services of GAV to aid in the work against Gangs in Bromley
(2) Anne Ball from MOPAC would forward details to the Group concerning the Gangs Exit Programme that was going to be funded by MOPAC.