LEWISHAM COMMUNITY POLICE CONSULTATIVE GROUP COVER SHEET FOR MINUTES
Public Document Pack LEWISHAM COMMUNITY POLICE CONSULTATIVE GROUP COVER SHEET FOR MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, 22 March 2011 at 7.00 pm Lewisham Council Chamber, Catford, SE6 4RU The minutes of this meeting were agreed by the LCPCG at the following AGM (held in March 2012). They are attached as a separate document. Minute Item 1 LEWISHAM COMMUNITY POLICE CONSULTATIVE GROUP Annual General Meeting 7.00 pm Tuesday 22 March 2011 MINUTES LCPCG MEMBERS OR DEPUTIES PRESENT Jackie Addison Duwayne Brooks Gary Connors Superintendent Lisa Crook Gurbakhsh Garcha Patricia Carruthers Deidre Mason Tom Mann Jane Duffy Hayley Chandler Crada Onuegbu Martyn Grover Joanne Hall Helen Buckley Gordon Glean Cora Green Tamsin Kelland Barbara Raymond Bishop Owen Douce Phil Turner Mahad Abdullahi Tayo Disu R Beavis LBL Councillor (LCPCG Chair) LBL Councillor (LCPCG Vice Chair) LBL Crime Reduction Service Manager Met Police - Head Partnership Lewisham Borough Ackroyd Community Association Catford South Ward Panel Crofton Park Ward Panel CURV Downham Ward Panel Goldsmiths College LBL Cabinet Member for Community Safety Lewisham Borough Business Against Crime (LBBAC) Lewisham Central Ward Panel Lewisham Disability Coalition Lewisham Shopping Centre Management Ltd. Lewisham Victims Support Metropolitan Police Authority Link Officer Moonshot Phoenix Youth Club Ransom Church of God Second Wave Youth Arts Somali and Somaliland London Community The Tabernacle Victim Support OTHERS PRESENT Daisy Cairns DCS John Carnochan Richard and Audrey Adams Margaret and Barry Mizen Dan Collis C Kibblewhite Jackie Bygrave Cllr Christine Allison Paul Newing Barrie Neal Ahenkora Bejdaks Chris Ellen T O Connor Vikki Eagon Abbey Hall Akosua Amoako Alice Schweigert Amanda O-B Angelina Buckle Ayo Njie Camilla Dani Babatunde Daniel Menson Diguan Nichols LCPCG Coordinator - minutes Violence Reduction Unit - guest speaker Guest speakers Jimmy Mizzen Foundation- guest speakers Bonus Pastor Catholic College Crofton Park SN Panel Deptford Green School LBL LLHS London Borough of Lewisham Met Police Met Police Met Police Met Police Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Page 2 F Ismail Fatu Paul Foday Dumbua Jay Jay Johanna Mia Josephine Anane Onose Obanokno Pamela Nwogbe Paule Tutice Rick Champion Rochan Rocky Haines Stephanie Tei Tamara Tougnon Tenisha Veronica Torres B T Langridge Barry Buckley Dionne Lewis G Thurley H D Levy Janet Spencer Jenni Steel Sherene Phillips-Boyd Bru Rogers Hena Chowdhury Kloe Dean Meg Gray N Morrison Talmid Bah Juney Muhammed Farhaan Hashi Abdi Musa Mahdi Mohammed John Biddle Alvan Wright Ron Dixon Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Bellingham SNP Resident Riverside ECHG Second Wave Second Wave Second Wave Second Wave Second Wave SLaM SSC SSLC SSLC TSG/Second Wave Youth Service Catford South SNP MINUTES ACTIONS 1. Welcome Jackie Addison, Chair of the LCPCG, thanked everyone for attending and welcomed them to the LCPCG AGM. She explained to those in the audience who hadn’t been present earlier that Second Wave had, immediately preceding this meeting, given a screening and discussion of their new CRITICAL ENCOUNTERS film, which describes the ongoing project. Second Wave have achieved great things and improving the quality of interactions and relations on the street between police officers and young people including the use of Stop and Search powers.. 2. Apologies for absence LCPCG Members: Geeta Subramanium, Borough Cmdr Jeremy Burton, Heidi Alexander MP, Joan Ruddock MP, Joan Coulson, Nico Springman, David Michael, Andy Glyn, Bishop Rouse, Althea Smith, Beverley Ammon, Olivia Sandy Other Guests: Sir Steve Bullock, Cllr Joan Millbank, Jill Jameson, Asquith Gibbes Cllr Susan Wise, Aileen Buckton, Cllr Marion Nisbet, Alma Hunt, Cllr Paul Bell, Cllr Darren Johnson, Cmdr David Zinzan, Eleanor Strachan Page 3 Apologies for lateness: Shaun Willshire and Joanne Hall had both given notice that they may be late arriving. The Chair also noted that two members, David Michael and Joan Coulson have both been unwell in recent months and neither are able to attend tonight. 3. Constitutional amendments The Chair, Jackie Addison spoke about the rationale for the first amendment, and why sharing the decision making and planning is vital to keep the LCPCG vibrant and effective in the long term - by ensuring that other members of the group have the experience to take over as Chair. The amendment was proposed by the Chair and seconded by Phil Turner and agreed unanimously. “The Strategy Group will develop the strategic direction of the LCPCG, its key operating principles and will be responsible for the Work Plan. LCPCG officers (Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer) together with the Chair of the Stop & Search Sub-Committee and the LCPCG Co-ordinator will form a Planning Group to advise the Strategy Group on work planning and administration issues. To this purpose it will meet separately and bring its recommendations to the Strategy Group for their approval” (to be inserted before paragraph No 7). The chair explained that the second amendment is being introduced to regularise the relationship between the council’s Crime Reduction Service and the LCPCG, as unlike the relationship with the local police, this is not covered in law. The amendment was proposed by the Chair and seconded by Tom Mann and agreed unanimously. “The LCPCG recognises that it has a special relationship with the Safer Lewisham Partnership (SLP) and therefore the Head of the Crime Reduction Service, as the Primary Adviser to the SLP, will attend Strategy Group Meetings, and Sub Committee meetings when invited in an advisory capacity.” (to be inserted before paragraph No. 8) 4. Minutes of previous meeting The minutes of the last LCPCG Annual General Meeting were agreed as a true record. 5. Chairs’ Report The Chair presented the LCPCG Annual Report 2009-2011. She explained that she had looked back over a number of previous reports for inspiration and had particularly wanted to including the day to day work that the Strategy Group undertake on behalf of the wider LCPCG membership. Jackie Addison proposed and Gordon Glean seconded that the Annual Report be accepted. The members unanimously accepted the report. 6. Elections Jackie Addison passed the administration of the election to an independent Chair, Derek Johnson, Business & Civic Manager at Lewisham Council. Before commencing it was confirmed that everyone who was eligible to vote had voting slips. Jackie Addison was elected unanimously as Chair and then resumed chairing the meeting. Tayo Disu was elected as Vice Chair, and James Dobson as Treasurer. Voting also took place for Strategy Group members, with the following results: Mahad Abdullahi and Tom Mann were elected as Strategy Group Members with a three year term each and Duwayne Brooks was elected as Strategy Group Members with a two year term. (results were announced later during the meeting). Page 4 7. Guest Speakers The Chair introduced Mr and Mrs Adams, whose son Rolan was killed in 1991. Mrs Adams – Yesterday was Rolan’s 36th birthday. He was killed 20 years ago during a spate of racist murders in Thamesmead. As his parents we will never get over his death, but just learn to move on. As a community we need to take responsibility. Some of these events are sensationalised, such as Rolan’s but every day people are stabbed. Money from government goes to community groups who help keep people off the streets, and this is being cut in the spending review, this is not political, just a fact. Families are decimated, victims get forgotten. Mr Adams – Last month we held a memorial for Rolan, following his last steps and laying a wreath at the bus stop where he died. As well as all of Rolan’s family, many of his peer group were there, lots of who are now parents themselves. There were lots of tears and lots of unresolved issues. In the years after Rolan’s death his friends found it very difficult to accept and my wife and I tried to help them. They are the forgotten victims of Rolan’s death. The Chair then introduced Mrs Margaret Mizen, whose son Jimmy was killed in 2008. Mrs Mizen spoke about the difficulties of loosing a child, and how Jimmy’s family have set up the Jimmy Mizen foundation, to bring something good out of the tragedy. They have visited schools, serious youth violence boards, set up a community café and help arrange apprenticeships for local youths. Over the last three years we have completely changed our views – during prison visits we have heard stories which have given us an insight into the many problems traced back to childhood and we feel we should ignore this at our peril. Mrs Mizen then introduced the main speaker Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan and gave the audience some highlights from his career. DCS John Carnochan, Head of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, introduced himself, a serving police officer of nearly 40 years, most of which have been as a detective in serious crime and homicide in Scotland, but also as an advisor in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In 2005, along with his deputy Karyn Mclusky, a Forensic Psychologist and Intelligence Analyst, he set up the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in Strathclyde (area around Glasgow), and their remit has now been extended to the whole of Scotland. The VRU target all forms of violent behaviour, in particular knife crime and weapon carrying among young men in and around Glasgow but they do not just consider not about violent CRIME, but about all forms of violence, from bullying to domestic violence, homicide to suicide. The VRU believe that that the focus of our collective efforts must be on prevention and that viewing violence as a public health problem offers the best chance of achieving a sustainable reduction in all forms of violence. One of the key points of DCS Carnochan’s lecture was the story of a young boy called David, who started truanting at about 11. At that time he lived in the 14th most deprived Ward in Scotland. There are loads of gangs in the area, all territorial and all engaging in recreational violence often involving weapons: knives, golf clubs, bricks, bottles, whatever was handy. David is involved with one of the gangs. Before he is 13 he has been charged twice with Breach of the Peace. By the time he reaches 14 he has been charged with housebreaking, assault, shoplifting and theft and is excluded from school intermittently. Between 14 and 15 he is referred to the Reporter three times. He is also charged with theft of cars. He is using alcohol and is a solvent abuser. One night David is in Glasgow city centre with some other members of the Page 5 gang. A fight starts with another gang from another area. David has a knife with him and during the fight stabs a man. He stabs him only once in the upper torso. His victim is not a member of a rival gang, not another violent young man, but a wholly innocent passer by. He dies at the scene. David is arrested and convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to seven years. It was a tragic event where the outcome makes it very easy to distinguish between the victim and the offender, easy to see who is responsible and clear who to blame: it was David who had the knife, it was David who stabbed, it was David who lived. The press are very comfortable with this clear and unambiguous apportioning of blame. It allows them to say that David is a Vicious Thug, A Hooligan, A Yob, A Ned, Scum, Feral; another example of a young person who reinforces our view that they are all like this, out of control, with no respect. I hear and read language used about young people that if the same language were used about other groups in society it would be considered unacceptable and quite properly unlawful. We must challenge that at every opportunity. He then went on to tell us more about David’s life. He was born in the early 80s. His mum was an alcoholic and lived on income support. They lived in 19th most deprived ward in Scotland. When he was three he moved with his mum to the 17th most deprived ward in Scotland because of domestic abuse. The following year he and his mum move to the 9th most deprived ward in Scotland because of continuing harassment from his mum’s ex partner. Three years later they move again this time back to the 19th most deprived ward in Scotland. David is seven. By the time he is eight, David moves in with his maternal grandmother through the week as his mum cannot cope . His grandmother also lives in the 19th most deprived ward. Living in that house are three adult uncles who have about 120 previous convictions between them; mostly for drugs, violence and dishonesty. A year later David’s family are rehoused again due to ongoing harassment from his mum’s ex partner. Over the next three years the family move home a further three times due to local authority plans for demolition and regeneration. They are now in the 14th most deprived ward in Scotland. All this time David has been attending school. When he starts secondary school in the early 90s, he is diminutive in stature in comparison with other boys in his year. He has started to get involved with the gangs and is a frequent truant. The family move to a house back in the 19th most deprived ward in Scotland where they stay for a year before moving to another house in the same area. David is classroom disruptive, abusing solvents and excluded from school intermittently. He is also charged with breaking into houses. He has a home supervision order and is referred three times to the reporter for assault, shoplifting, theft and breach of the peace. He is drinking. He is 15. The family are very resistant to social work involvement. Later that year he is charged with theft of cars. The following year he is charged with assault, assault and robbery, attempted murder and murder. He is found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to seven years. In his post trial report, the judge said “There did not seem to be any indication in the background or supporting evidence suggesting that David is anything other than a pretty ordinary teenager, although one familiar with general gang culture, involving significant and indeed quite organised violence between different territorial groups. He seems to have a decent and supportive family and to feel genuine abhorrence for Page 6 what he did”. This cannot ever be considered ordinary. The judges comments will have been based on a social enquiry report and in relation to the case load of the social worker who prepared it, David’s life was pretty ordinary. I worked in that area and I can understand how it would seem ordinary. David went to prison. When he is 19 his mum dies of a heroin overdose. His sister is in care. Six years into his sentence, David gets escorted leave and gets caught with two other prisoners dealing drugs. The following year he is released on licence back into the same house in the same street. When he is released the release report notes: “Scottish Ministers note that on release David can look forward to strong support from his grandmother and his wider family in Glasgow and his employment prospects look favourable”. In a rather perverse way, David’s employment prospects are favourable. As a young man with a conviction for murder, lacking empathy, comfortable using violence and with a local reputation, it will not be a job he’ll get through the Job Centre, but I know there will be work for him near his home. David’s story is sadly not unique. It is true that not every violent event ends in murder but that is what always grabs the attention. The truth is the outcome is largely a happenstance, so we must concentrate on addressing the behaviour and not just concentrating our efforts on dealing with the outcome after that point of impact. In the context of David’s story, DCS Carnochan discussed the importance of the early years to children’s life chances, long term health, social problems, education and life expectancy and other issues. Gangs in Glasgow have a very long history but in the current day they are not Serious Organised Crime Groups, but rather have a flat hierarchy and fluid membership. Across Strathclyde there are 150 Gangs with around 2,500 members. In the main they are based on territory, respect and fear. DCS Carnochan told the group about the VRU’s Community Initiative to Reduce Violence scheme or CIRV. CIRV uses the Self Referral Session as a part of its engagement process to directly and accurately communicate the consequences of violent behaviour to the gang members. The session demonstrates the availability of services for those choosing to get out of “gang life,” and the expectations of the community and the consequences for them should the violent acts continue. Every attempt is made, therefore, to identify attendees that most broadly represent the street gangs identified by the intelligence gathering carried out by the CIRV project team. Each session uses different individuals, from law enforcement, doctors from Accident and Emergency services, the community and the service delivery agencies, both voluntary and statutory, to speak at the session. Regular speakers at the session have included:- Senior police officers; The mother of a boy seriously injured as a result of gang violence; An ex-prisoner who was convicted of murder following a gang fight; Ex gang members who have engaged positively with CIRV; CIRV programme providers. On completion of each self referral session each target client has been issued with a calling card containing the 24/7 telephone number and instructions for engagement before being transported back to their local areas. The Self Referral Session has been Page 7 the subject of considerable media interest and in particular was attended by Cherie Booth QC as part of Channel 4 documentary programme ‘Dispatches’ in summer 2008. It has also been the subject of written press broadsheet features. DCS Carnochan then took questions from the audience: Gurbaksh Garcha You are suggesting we are dealing with these type of problems far too late. Should we be teaching children at school how to be good parents? John Carnochan Introduced this programme into prisons – it isn’t about people wanting to be bad parents but them having no role models. Health visitors have a very important role and there are intensive parenting courses. But it isn’t enough to work on parenting – that is for future generations – we also have to deal with the problems on our streets now. Helen Buckley I’d like to ask you about the different attitudes that to the mentally ill in Mental Health Professionals and the Police – one to lock up and one wanting to give them treatment. I think that in these cases police need to listen more to mental health professionals. Do you agree? John Carnochan Yes I agree – we need to look at underlying problems. Juney Muhammed – SLaM Thank you for a very inspiring talk – I think these solutions are simple but everything is currently focused on crisis management. The structures aren’t there and the system is only able to deal with people in crisis. John Carnochan We need to make this message irresistible to politicians – early years is absolutely crucial but they are getting different messages from elsewhere. Resilience. Speaking truth honestly and quietly. Gordon Glean You talked earlier about the Scottish experience not being racially motivated, but the racial element does exist here in London. The problems we face here are not around drink, but around ASB and Gang cultures. These issues are reported to be predominantly black and predominantly male and there are racial tensions from certain communities. What are your views about institutions being racially motivated, rather than the perpetrators. John Carnochan The trouble is that we like to blame others for problems. In Glasgow this is poor guys living in bad areas. I’m not familiar with all the issues here in London, I’m not saying it isn’t a big challenge, but it is about aspiration. Tayo Disu Thank you for a very interesting speech. I really agree with you about the importance of functional family homes –my work involves providing parenting lessons. I think we should focus on strengthening families and strengthening communities because our children are part of our communities. There is a saying that it takes a whole village to raise a child. So although we may not all have power over policies, but we can all affect families. John Carnochan Thank you. Tom Mann Thank you for an inspiring talk. I’d like to ask a question about money. What do you think are the main obstacles / what is in the way of making the changes you would like? Is it 1) that the policy makers don’t know what is needed – i.e. about education, or 2) that they know what is needed but it is very expensive, which effectively means a very high triage barrier. What you have done is re-invent government and it is difficult to sell spending money on nasty people. Page 8 John Carnochan Politicians do understand but don’t think the public will support the changes. Sometimes successful projects are happening at a local level and politicians will look to copy it or to scale it up - very often this is not the answer. Communities need to be given the support to do it for themselves. Margaret Mizen It was a very inspiring talk. I wanted to say something about Early Years – When I had my first baby I stayed in hospital and learned to feed, clean and change him. I think people need more help and we need to bring love back into their lives. Unknown gentleman: Hello. You mentioned church a few times but you didn’t mention role of religious violence – for example sectarian violence in football in Scotland. John Carnochan I think that churches are trying to do good in society and I don’t feel that they deserve to be linked with the football violence – sectarian issues in Scotland date back a long way and are about a tribal history of warring sides rather than religion. I see the main issues as being alcohol, violence and power rather than religion. Those guys squaring up to one another on the touch line of the recent Celtic vs Rangers match recently weren’t fighting for religion, they’re just idiots! Barry Buckley Alcohol is not spoken about enough. In the 1960’s there was a very controlled system for buying alcohol, where it was only available from off licences attached to pubs. There are public safety campaigns and advertising warning on the dangers of alcohol, but no one ever talks about controlling the sale of alcohol that strictly again. John Carnochan I don’t like talking about “ism’s” but I’d say the reason is capitalism. Today you can buy beer which is cheaper than water. Whatever the PR people say businesses are not here to help or look after the community – they are here to make money and if they can see a way of doing then sooner or later they will. There is a lawful duty on Company Directors to make the maximum profit for their shareholders. Paul Newing Is it TLC that youngsters are crying out for? In London we have areas of wealth and poverty very close together. Some youngsters see drug dealing as their only route to wealth. Also you say that violence is a male problem but in London female gangs are becoming a problem. Also is there any European evidence on ways of dealing with violent crime? John Carnochan There is very little evidence from Europe to be honest, you have to be careful applying systems from one country to another country. John Carnochan told the audience that he had given further details on the work of the Violence Reduction Unit, and the CIRV programme to the LCPCG Coordinator so members could have electronic access. 8. Lewisham Police Service's Deputy Borough Commander, Supt Lisa Crook Supt Crook had to leave earlier in the meeting, and Mr Burton’s report from the annual report was noted to the meeting . 9. Lewisham Council's Crime Reduction Service Manager, Gary Connors Gary Connors passed on apologies from Geeta Subramanium and noted that she has provided an excellent summary of the years work within the LCPCGs Annual report. Page 9 In the last month or so, plans for the upcoming year have been formalised, and Gary covered the findings of the Strategic Assessment for 2011/2012 fiscal year. This was recently approved by the Safer Lewisham Partnership and the annual priorities for the current year have been set as: - Young People - Under 25 - Violence and Knife Crime - Anti Social Behaviour - Violence Against Women - Reducing Reoffending The LCPCG consultation findings were fed into the process that produced the document and they have supported the 'Anti-Social Behaviour' and 'Young People & knife crime' priorities. A multi-agency strategic action plan has been developed to drive activity around these priorities and public documents are available online on the Lewisham Strategic Partnership website (look for Safer Lewisham Plan 2011/2012) 10. Any Other Business Tom Mann thanked the outgoing members of the Strategy Group, including the vice chair Duwayne Brooks, on behalf of the wider LCPCG. 11. Closing remarks The chair thanked all the speakers and the audience for coming and invited them to join her in the West-Indian Buffet which is waiting in the foyer outside. Page 10
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