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Police pimp their ride with basketball hoops and mixing desk
Evening Standard27 Oct 2008
THE Met has transformed a riot van into a music recording studio in an effort to reduce knife and violent crime in young people.
The police joined forces with MTV and music giants, EMI, to "pimp" the R-reg Mercedes.
The van's cage and blue lights have gone and thousands of pounds of recording equipment, a film editing suite and even a basketball hoop have been added.
The van will feature on MTV series Pimp My Ride, presented by DJ Tim Westwood, on 30 November.
The van has been given to London charity XLP and will visit schools and youth centres in seven boroughs Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich and Islington. John Sutherland, the Islington operations superintendent who helped organise the project, said a new approach was needed to knife crime. "I'd like to think this will be something we can do differently. It's refreshing to be able to try and make a difference."
Reader views (10)
May as well call them Peace Officers as they've all but given up on doing a proper job of policing. Will they be smoking funny substance to go with the van next!
- Aiddy, MK, 28/10/2008 06:46
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Okay, just want to reply to a few of the comments that have been said before me:
1. Perhaps it will be able to reduce crime by giving the kids something else to do, giving them a sense of achievement (through recording etc), showing them that, perhaps, the community actually care about them and don't reject them because of their circumstances etc
2. How can it come from taxpayers money? Its a beaten up old van (not really worth much to us I am guessing) and I assume that MTV funded it (or are all the 'Pimp my Rides' taking from the taxpayer's money?!)!
3. Before stating that there are more 'DESERVING charities', perhaps a little more research should be put into the charity it was given to.
4. I do not think we should claim 'IT DOES NOT WORK'. Show me proof that absolutely no one has been affected in a positive way by these attempts to 'tame these hooligans' (an extremely judgemental and condescending phrase by the way). Surely (as this in particular has not put any of us out of pocket) if one youth is helped and changed by a project such as this it has been successful and therefore may still be for others in the future.
I think that it is great that some people actually realise that there is a problem with youth culture in London today and that some charities, such as XLP, and the MET are not judging these kids but are getting involved, taking an interest and, hopefully, making a difference!
- Citzenoflondon, London, 28/10/2008 00:07
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It is a shame that some people have chosen to pour scorn and unconstructive criticism on this idea. Tarting up an old van and giving it to an inner city youth project seems worthy of support rather than sniping from the gutter.
- Austen, London, 27/10/2008 22:30
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I wouldn't have thought that any tax payers money was spent on it, MTV will have paid for it as part of the TV programme. If people have seen the team on XLP's bus working with young people on London estates then they may think twice before saying its a waste of time. XLP work with many young people across London helping them make wise lifestyle choices including leaving gangs etc. They give young people a voice through the arts and support them in many ways. This is just another tool which will have an amazing effect on young poeple and the communities they live in.
- Nicola, London, 27/10/2008 18:31
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How does this help reduce crime? Really.
- M,, London, 27/10/2008 17:42
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how totally moronic! What smart alec though up this monstrosity - more taxpayers money wasted on 'yoof justice' - van will probably be nicked in the next 48 hours anyway....
- Gary, wycombe, 27/10/2008 14:07
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What a waste! Think of all the DESERVING charities this could have benefitted!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 27/10/2008 13:20
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Hope it's insured.
- Jilly, London, England, 27/10/2008 13:17
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Why is recording equipment seen to be the only way to tame these hooligans? I appreciate the kids need more to do, but this clearly isn't the answer! How many times have we seen a set of decks purchased to try and stop them carrying knives/ guns, wearing hoodies/ masks, playing music out loud on their mobile phones, buying 'token' dogs, intimidating the public, dabbling and dealing in drugs and spawning the next generation of the devils off-spring. IT DOES NOT WORK.
- Jc, London, 27/10/2008 12:04
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How deeply patronising, and butt-clenchingly embarrassing. Quite what link between exists between 'Pimp My Ride' and knife crime is not explained, probably because there isn't one. This is yet another example of the Met being 'The Land of a 1000 Initiatives' all of which are consigned to the dustbin of history after the first press release.
- Exmetseniorofficer, London, 27/10/2008 10:44
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