Black churches target gangs and drugs culture to end killings

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Religious leaders in Hackney have announced plans to run a gangs and drugs awareness programme for local teenagers.

The Rev Joyce Daley, Hackney borough dean for independent black majority churches, said: "We have had two teenage murders in Hackney but parents are refusing to say anything.

"People are not coming forward to help the police. There is no one else who can reach our community other than the church.

"Most of the black youths are associated with the church in some way, whether they go to church themselves, or if their parents or grandparents go. The church is usually involved at the end of the trouble, when we are burying people. But it is not enough. We need to be involved with the solution rather then just comforting parents."

Ms Daley is organising an awareness day in spring to address the problem. Gang members and police will meet church leaders, parents and drugs awareness teams.

She said: "Gang members will be prepared to come in if it is in the right forum. They know it is safe and neutral territory."

Winston McKenzie, who is bidding to become London's first black mayor, has put stopping gang violence at the top of his agenda. He said he planned to visit churches to discuss gang problems.

He said: "Nine times out of 10 the parents of gang members go to church. Most of these youngsters will have had a Christian upbringing but have lost their way."