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Police visit classes to keep 10-year-olds out of gang crime
Justin Davenport, Crime Editor13 Nov 2009
Children as young as 10 could be taught about the dangers of gun and knife crime to try to steer them away from gangs.
Officers from the Met's Operation Trident squad, which tackles gun crime in the black community, are considering visiting primary schools in some boroughs.
The unit already runs a six-strong team which shows 14 and 15-year-olds in schools a hard-hitting presentation about gun crime. It is considering extending its work after teachers warned that some 10 and 11-year-olds were at risk from gun and knife crime.
Police visited a school in Walthamstow to ask pupils about their experiences of weapons. Insiders described the views they encountered as “disquieting”. One in three of year six children thought it acceptable to carry a knife.
Scotland Yard said primary visits were still being considered and that they would be more to do with bullying and conflict resolution. One source said: “The presentation to older children is much more hard hitting and would be completely inappropriate for 10-year-olds.”
Claudia Webbe, head of Trident Independent Advisory Group, said: “Children are vulnerable. But I think there are questions about the police doing this sort of work. It may need to be done by somebody more connected to the community.”
The scheme for teenagers is under way in schools in Haringey, Hackney, Brent, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, which all suffer high rates of gun crime.
Reader views (1)
I am so afraid that today´s hard-bitten, street-wise youngsters from the sink estates will get the wrong message from this. Guns and knives are already seen as status symbols and instead of youngsters being deterred, they will only be attracted to them.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 13/11/2009 15:41
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