Policy Hub
On 17 June 2008, the New Local Government Network (NLGN) published a report (Gangs at the grassroots: community solutions to street violence) which warns the government to avoid using centralised policies to tackle gang violence and knife crime.
The report argues that a focus on Whitehall-driven targets does not take into account the diverse nature of many gangs and that local areas should be able to introduce interventions based on local factors. It explains that councils should be given control over local neighbourhood policing and have the freedom to develop their own strategies in order to address the problem of gang violence.
The report also suggests that local citizens could have greater influence over community sentences for gang-related crimes. This would allow judges to discuss with the local community how a convicted gang member should be punished under a community sentence.
In addition, the report calls for greater pre-emptive investment in severely affected neighbourhoods and for a more creative approach to the use of youth mentors to support people in danger of being influenced by gangs. It points towards innovative projects in Lambeth, Manchester and Islington as evidence that local authorities can develop successful responses to gang violence, adopting imaginative, multi-agency solutions not only to reduce violence but also to promote education and employment.
Gangs at the grassroots: community solutions to street violence (PDF)