ISLINGTON Council is today launching tough new action to stop young people drifting into gang culture and youth crime.<br> <br>The council's Gang Prevention Strategy will tackle those youths identified by police and the council as most in danger of becoming criminals or victims of crime.<br><br>Individual action plans will be put in place to help them stay on the right side of the law.<br><br>In some cases the action could be as simple as a phone call to parents advising them on their child's behaviour and offering advice and help.<br><br>At the other end of the scale, serious criminal cases will be referred to the police for enforcement, and also, as now, offenders could face Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and other legal action.<br><br>Other young people will be helped into work, education or training and, if necessary, given help with literacy and numeracy. <br><br>Work will continue with all of the young people identified as at risk, with regular meetings, monitoring and action plans to make sure the right balance of support or enforcement is given.<br><br>Cllr Marisha Ray, Islington Council's Executive Member for Community Safety, said: "Some parts of London and other major cities have far more serious problems with organised gang crime than Islington.<br><br>"But we are determined to stop gang culture and youth crime gaining a hold on our communities and children.<br><br>"This Gang Prevention Strategy will stop young people on the fringes of crime from being sucked in.<br><br>"Those who have fallen in deeper will be offered help, and in severe cases will face the courts.<br><br>"Work on the strategy already shows this approach is effective.<br><br>"We will do everything we can to protect our young people and everybody in Islington from the scourge of crime and gangs."<br><br>The Gang Prevention Strategy has been set up after a smaller-scale version of the scheme was put in place in Islington after the tragic death of Martin Dinnegan, who was stabbed and killed in June last year.<br><br>Following Martin's death, action plans were put in place for 63 young people who were thought to be at risk of becoming involved in disorder.<br><br>Of those 63, some have been helped into work, or returned to school or training after earlier exclusions, while others have been given support from youth services.<br><br>One young man has since begun an apprenticeship with a construction firm and other young people have been helped into actvitives ranging from hairdressing to competitive sports.<br><br>Two older youths have been given Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), and six more ASBOs are being sought.<br><br>All have had regular monthly meetings on their progress.<br><br>The idea is now being extended across Islington to other young people believed to be at risk of drifting into crime.<br><br>Extra money is being set aside in this year's budget to back up the strategy, including £200,000 to give the young people most at risk the best possible chance to change using all available support.<br><br>Many will be helped with council services: Islington invests about £5.5 million on youth services each year, with another £3 million from other organisations, making it comparatively one of the highest-spending authorities in the UK.<br><br>Money is also spent on the Youth Offending Service, and an additional £450,000 has also been invested on youth crime and safety work through the Local Area Agreement.<br><br>The council's Commission on Young People And Safety in Islington is also currently looking at the extent of gun, gang and knife culture in the borough, and ways of protecting young people from such crime.<br><br>Cllr Greg Foxsmith, chair of the commission, said: "The strategy is a valuable tool in preventing gang culture from taking root in Islington.<br><br>"I want the council to be proactive not reactive in tackling these issues."<br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009