“What you always do before you make a decision is consult. The best public policy is made when you are listening to people who are going to be impacted. Then, once a policy is determined, you call on them to help you sell it.”
— Margaret Dole
Event Details
| Title: | Guns, Knives and Beyond: Tackling Dangerous New Trends in Gang and Street Weapon Culture |
| Date: | Thursday 8th July 2010 |
| Time: | 10.00am – 5.00pm |
| Venue: | One Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London |
| Register your place |
“ Gang violence is unacceptable. It has a significant impact on communities, both in terms of crime and fear of crime and I am committed to doing all I can to support local communities and the police in tackling gang crime…”
— Home Secretary, February 2009
“ Women and girls affected by serious youth, and gang related violence have been largely ignored in both policy and practice...”
— Female Voice In Violence Project, ROTA Report, February 2010
Overview
More than fifty teenagers have died as a result of violent incidents in London alone in the past two years – with many of the victims succumbing to horrific knife attacks by other young people. Nationally, several high profile gun and knife crimes along with the perceived escalation of knife-possession and gang-related violence prompted the previous Government to launch new measures to tackle youth crime; particularly to address the growing street weapon culture that is destroying so many young lives.
Behind the headlines, however, research has uncovered hidden trends with disturbing evidence of the increasing involvement of girls in gang culture – both as offenders and victims. Indeed, it is suggested that the intimidation of young women is widespread and even the threat of rape is commonly being used as the ‘weapon of choice’ on the streets. With the increasingly prevalent use of dangerous dogs as primary or secondary weapons it is clear that gang and street weapon culture in this country is being shaped by a set of complex trends and tackling such a phenomenon requires a joined-up approach from practitioners and policymakers alike.
As the new coalition Government begins to set out its roadmap for policing and crime reduction, this major one-day national conference provides a timely opportunity to explore solutions for the latest challenges posed by these dangerous new trends in gang and street weapon culture. The conference will consider how a ‘triple track’ approach of prevention, enforcement and punishment and can be implemented fully and effectively at the local level, bringing closer together the work of police, probation, local authorities, health services and education authorities.
Programme
| 09:15 |
Registration and Morning Refreshments |
| 10:00 |
Chair’s Welcome and Introduction Rob Owen (chair), Chief Executive, St. Giles Trust (confirmed) |
| 10:15 |
Mean Streets? Recognising and Facing Dangerous New Trends
Carlene Firmin, Senior Policy Officer, Race on the Agenda (ROTA) (confirmed) Keith Evans, Deputy Lead, Dangerous Dog Unit, West Midlands Police (confirmed) |
| 11:10 | Morning Refreshments |
| 11:30 | Open Floor Discussion and Debate |
| 12:30 | Networking Lunch |
| 13:30 |
Young Victims of Violent Crime – Tackling Gang and Street Weapon Culture through Partnership
PS Mark Deacon, Southwark Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, Metropolitan Police (confirmed) Elroy Palmer, Manager, SOS Gangs Project, St Giles Trust (confirmed) Joan Leary, Senior Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, London Borough of Southwark (confirmed) |
| 14:15 | Open Floor Discussion and Debate |
| 15:00 | Afternoon Refreshments |
| 15:15 |
Towards a Long Term Prevention Strategy – Earlier Intervention and the Role of Schools
|
| 16:15 | Chair’s Summary and Closing Comments |
| 16:20 | Networking Reception |
| 17:00 | Conference Close |
Who Should Attend?
- Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships
- Community Safety Teams
- Neighbourhood Policing Teams
- Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinators
- Drug & Alcohol Action Teams
- Police Service, Police Authorities & Fire Services
- Firearms Units
- Youth Offending Teams
- Youth & Outreach Workers
- Youth Inclusion Teams
- from Young Offenders Institutes
- Probation Officers
- Town Centre Managers
- Licensing Enforcement Officers
- Community Cohesion & Development Organisations
- Community Support Officers
- Accident & Emergency Departments
- Local Authority Officers & Councillors
- Central Government Departments and Agencies
- Children & Youth Services
- Domestic Violence Co-ordinators
- Families Services Officers
- Sure Start, Children’s Trusts & Children’s Centres
- Health Service Professionals
- Victim Support Representatives
- Psychologists
- Social Workers & Social Services Officers
- Local Education Welfare Authorities
- Teachers & Head Teachers
- Neighbourhood Wardens & Co-ordinators
- Criminal Justice Practitioners
- Judges & Magistrates
- Legal Professionals
- Equality & Diversity Practitioners
- Third Sector Practitioners
- Academics and Researchers
Event Brochure
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