Oral Answers to Questions

John Baron Excerpts

Monday 19th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Angie Bray (Ealing Central and Acton) (Con)]

5. What steps she is taking to tackle gang-related crime.

[Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

15. What steps she is taking to tackle gang-related crime.

[The Minister for Immigration (Damian Green)]

The Government report on ending gang and youth violence published last November sets out a long-term, evidence-based programme to tackle gang and youth violence. The approach combines the early identification of children and young people most at risk of being drawn into gangs, providing ways out for those wanting to leave a gang, and tough enforcement against those who continue with a violent lifestyle.

[Damian Green]

The Government’s position is clear. Any adult who commits a crime using a knife can expect to be sent to prison, and serious offenders can expect a long sentence. The Home Office has committed £18 million of funding for 2011-13 to support the police, local agencies and the voluntary sector to tackle knife, gun and gang-related crime. As my hon. Friend says, Ealing has been identified as one of the 30 most affected areas. That is why it is one of the areas selected to receive additional support. It has been allocated more than £230,000 in provisional support, and I know that that money will be well spent.

[Mr Baron]

Gang-related crime is a major plague in many of our communities. Government measures so far are welcome, but what more can the Government do to combat the problem, particularly when it comes to reducing the number of vulnerable people drawn to gangs?

[Damian Green]

My hon. Friend touches on an important point. It is clearly not just about attacking the offences and identifying the offenders—it is trying to stop them offending and joining gangs in the first place. That is why support for parents and families is at the heart of this programme. We have established an ending gang and youth violence team led by a detective chief superintendent from the Metropolitan police. The team will have access to advisers from a range of backgrounds, including community activists, local authority specialists and voluntary organisations, so that we can get to the roots of the problem as soon as it starts, long before the children join a gang.