Blears search for black role models

Fashion designer Ozwald Boateng and Tim Campbell, winner of the TV show The Apprentice, will lead the hunt for successful black businessmen, lawyers and doctors who teenagers can look up to.

The drive follows a report that warned young black boys need more positive role models as they are looking up to the wrong sort of people, those who glamorise guns and criminality.

The Reach advisory panel calculated a £24 billion bill over the next 50 years in lost taxes, criminal justice and healthcare costs.

Ms Blears will say that too many young black men are failing because of a culture of low aspiration.

She will also announce moves to improve the educational attainment of black boys and to engage better with parents.

A ministerial board will be set up to monitor progress.

Ms Blears will say: "Higher attainment will lead to higher aspirations, and role models that counter images that glamorise crime, guns and gangs will show our young men just what they can achieve."

The national role modelling programme will identify 20 successful black men who will speak to schools and youth clubs about their stories.

Doctors, lawyers, teachers and religious leaders, for example, will also be recruited to take on mentoring roles in their neighbourhood.