Cops ‘engage’ with youths to beat gangs

Published: 12th May, 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

CAMDEN’S police chief has said gang crime is his “number one policing priority” after a man was stabbed to death in broad daylight  three weeks ago.

Borough Commander John Sutherland said youth crime is “not a defining characteristic” of Camden but remains the top job for officers.

He spoke to the New Journal last Thursday in the aftermath of recent stabbings in the borough.

A 28-day dispersal zone has been introduced covering parts of Swiss Cottage, Kilburn and South Hampstead in response to incidents. The zone is to tackle serious youth crime rather than lower-level disorder.

Chief Superintendent  Sutherland would not be drawn on whether the attacks were gang-related, but admitted such problems do exist in the borough. 

He said: “We are not talking about organised criminal gangs. What we have ranges from groups of young people who are no more than anti-social in their behaviour, to those engaged in low-level street crime. 

“There is  also a proportion of those groups who are prepared to carry knives and who will use them.”

Chief Supt Sutherland said there were no more than “a dozen to 20” people in each ward that police were concerned about, but he acknowledged there were hotspots for youth crime.

“Locality is a very important factor when dealing with young people,” he said. “Postcodes mean something to estate agents and gang members and no one else. Young people are very aware of their neighbourhoods and their territory.”

Speaking about youth crime across the capital, Chief Supt Sutherland said there were worrying trends emerging.

“There is firstly a concern that the age of those involved has got younger,” he said. 

“I’ve dealt with murders where the list of suspects includes 11-year-olds. 

“That ought to stop us in our tracks. The level of violence which young people are prepared to use has amplified to a pretty alarming state. Technologies such as Facebook and text messages can lead to situations escalating very quickly. 

“Stories can do the rounds in minutes without people having the space to say, ‘is that true?’.”

Last September Camden police launched Operation Curve, aimed specifically at containing youth violence through positive engagement. 

Chief Supt Sutherland said resources were being reassigned to set up a dedicated policing team with 30 officers.

He added: “I think we are well known for enforcement and we are pretty good at it. 

“We are less well known for engagement and we are getting better at it.”