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azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3776

see - http://www.sundayherald.com/53376

Controversial bid to weaken grip of ‘booze and blade’ culture

By Liam McDougall, Home Affairs Editor

A CONTROVERSIAL pilot scheme to tackle Scotland’s “booze and blade” culture will offer young gang members jobs or college places in a bid to wean them off crime.
Under the controversial initiative, to be launched initially in the Govan area of Glasgow, police officers will pass intelligence on key gang members to enterprise agencies such as Careers Scotland and local authorities, who will identify willing employers or college placements so they can begin a career.

Senior police officers say the scheme is an “innovative” response to the so-called “booze and blade” culture that is leading to many neighbourhoods in Scotland being terrorised by gangs of drunk youths, some armed with knives and machetes.

They believe that finding employment for them will instill a sense of discipline and break the cycle of crime.

Last night, however, the initiative met with a mixed response, with some claiming that it favoured the criminal element in society rather than rewarding hard-working youths who nevertheless could not find a job or a college place.

Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of Strathclyde Police’s Violence Reduction Unit, who will be involved in the scheme, said: “It may be that with some gang members the only resolution will be to arrest them because they may be so committed to a criminal life. But I know there are others on the fringes that it’s possible to save, so let’s have a go.

“There are those who will be sceptical but we need to do something different. We can’t keep arresting them, searching them and then giving them the jail. We need to be more innovative and thoughtful about how we address these kids. They are walking about the streets disenfranchised with society and we need to give them a stake in that society.”

News of the initiative, which is due to be launched next month, comes just days after the release of Scottish Executive figures showing murder rates in Scotland are at a 10-year high.

The statistics revealed in stark detail a disturbing pattern of fatal knife crime among young men, especially in Glasgow and the west if Scotland that was reminiscent of the razor gangs of the 1930s.

The employment scheme is a major extension to Strathclyde Police’s Operation Tag, launched in Glasgow’s south side this year to crack down on gang violence. Under the operation, the force’s G Division sent out undercover officers to gather intelligence on members and identified 37 separate gangs with hundreds of members.

They found gangs, with members ranging in age from 12 to 45, involved in crimes from vandalism and disorder to rioting and attempted murder. In one night of the crackdown 50 people were arrested, with four carrying knives.

On Thursday, Chief Superintendent Tom Blair, the division’s commander, is to hold the first meeting about the scheme with Carnochan, Glasgow City Council and representatives of Careers Scotland, to discuss how the initiative will develop. It is hoped that it will become a model for dealing with disenfranchised youths and provide a solution to the anti-social behaviour and gang fighting that plagues other areas in Scotland.

Carnochan added: “In some of the more deprived areas, the carrying of knives seems to be legitimised. Often in gang fights whoever’s the quickest ends up doing life and whoever’s slowest ends up buried. It’s tragic, but if we know who these gang members are and we get to them and can help them get back on track then we should do it. We should be asking ourselves how we can get them jobs and get them onto courses to get on the first rungs of the employment ladder.

“We’re not saying this is going to make a difference by next week, but, longer term, it has to be the right thing to do.”

Carnochan also said that while older members would be given the opportunity to find jobs, younger gang members would be offered “diversionary” leisure activities such as outward bound courses.

Although the initiative is being led by G Division at Strathclyde, it will draw on the links with agencies developed by the Violence Reduction Unit, which Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson has recently extended to become a national “centre of excellence” on violence prevention.

Last night, the scheme was given a cautious welcome by victims’ groups. Joe Duffy, of People Experiencing Trauma and Loss, said: “I’d welcome any initiative that eliminates gang culture. But too often these schemes are the grand plans of politicians and the police that come to nothing.”

Kenny MacAskill, the SNP justice spokesman, said: “We need to get a balance by helping the kids who are not necessarily in conflict and ensuring that those who are in trouble get assistance.”

However, Bill Aitken, the Tory MSP for Glasgow, said: “What happens to the kids who are behaving themselves and can’t get college courses? I think really the priority should be given to the good guys for once.”

18 December 2005

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"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub

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azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3776

for once I think the executive may be onto a winner here. hope this progresses well!
_________________
"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub

Possibly the funniest site in the world, 'The Daily Mash' - http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/