Agenda item

The Chair brought members attention to the report introducing item two on the agenda, including a brief overview of the latest policy developments on serious violent crime, and to the LGA’s response to the Government’s consultation on taking a multi-agency approach to tackling and preventing serious violent crime. 

The Chair then introduced Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust.  Patrick’s presentation focused on:

·         The history of the trust and information about Ben Kinsella, a straight-A student, who was tragically stabbed and murdered in the streets after a night out celebrating his exam results with friends, and had written to the Prime Minister before his death calling for more action on knife crime. 

·         A video that went over the night Ben was murdered, the media’s response, the effect this had on Ben’s family, friends and the community, and the perpetrators and their sentence.

·         The Trust’s aims – to stop youth crime and promote early intervention and preventative measures. 

Patrick spoke extensively about early intervention and preventative work, especially the need for a universal preventative approach. The Trust is now looking at innovative youth work to provide that universal approach – such as theatre companies, and immersive projects inspired by the Anne Frank Museum, which had resulted in the Trust creating interactive experience rooms in London and Nottingham.

Patrick also discussed the programmes the Trust delivers to schools and in communities, targeting the age group of 10 and 11 year olds as the transition from primary to secondary is a crucial point.  Patrick discussed how the programmes are not a one-size-fits-all approach, and that the programmes and services the Trust delivers need to reflect the various experiences that young people face, as well as the address the different communities in which young people reside. 

Patrick gave further details on the experience rooms; these challenge beliefs held by young people.  The rooms are primarily aimed at young people who are not likely to be carrying knifes. The intention is that as a result of the course they will challenge peers that do go on to carry knifes.  Patrick stated that while the Trust understands that a two hour workshop won’t solve the problem, it offers to spread awareness of the potential impact of carrying a weapon, and work with schools to highlight those who may be at risk of this behaviour.  The Trust also research potential adverse childhood experiences young people may have experienced that push them into carrying weapons.  Patrick invited all members to the experience rooms.  

The presentation also touched on Patrick’s meeting the architect of Violence Reduction Unit’s, a police officer who champions early intervention and prevention methods rather than just enforcement. 

Following the presentation, members raised the following points:

Members discussed the benefits of working with children to discuss serious youth violence at primary school age, and whether those who were at risk of carrying knives could be identified while still in primary school. Patrick stated that knife crime needed to be recognised by schools as a safeguarding issue; that they work with children of all ages, teaching them that this is not about knife crime, but about making good choices; and explained that as part of the process the children participating in the experience were anonymously surveyed before and after, and the Trust can highlight young people’s responses and indicators that some may be at risk.  

Members discussed the importance of working with communities, and of youth work, and questioned what the Trust’s position on this was?  Members went on to highlight the importance of investing in a variety of youth work.  Patrick commented that the Trust supports youth work and stated that there is clear research out there that suggests the more youth work there is, the less serious youth crime is reported.  Patrick agreed that more funding needed to be given to youth work, and members stated the LGA needed to be lobbying government to invest more in youth. 

Members raised the Board’s representation of the Serious Violence Task Force, and that there needs to be a cross-party consensus on how to tackle serious crime, particularly crime committed by young people. 

Members discussed school exclusions, and the role this can play in pushing young people to commit serious crime and carry weapons.  Members discussed the possibility of training or work if a young person is excluded from school.  Patrick stated that children should be kept in school as once excluded it was much harder to prevent a child becoming involved in crime as drug dealers for example are very clever at targeting at risk young people who suffer exclusion. He added that the Trust works with others to assist children at the point of exclusion and they typically had issues with self-esteem, self-confidence, self-belief and ambition, which had to be addressed. Exclusion should be regarded as a trigger for intervention.

Members debated if drug law, sentencing and possible de-criminalisation could be a way forward in avoiding young people being prosecuted and being pushed into a life of crime. 

The Chair concluded discussions by giving praise to the amazing work the Trust carries out, and thanked Patrick for his presentation. 

Decision

1.    Members of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board noted the LGA’s response to the Government’s consultation on taking a multi-agency approach to tackling and preventing serious violent crime.