
Historic Guildhall plays host to Regional Knife Crime Conference
For the past two years SOS Global has been supported by the Home Office Communities Against Guns, Gangs and Knives Fund (CAGGK) culminating in a regional conference at the Guildhall, Exeter on 26 April 2013.
The event was opened by the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Rob Newby, chaired by Dawn Dines (CEO SOS Global) and included guest speakers, his Honour Judge Cottle, Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg and Superintendent Chris Eastwood from the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary.
Attendees included representatives from Exeter, Devon & Torbay Councils, Youth Offending Teams, the Judiciary, Drug & Alcohol Teams, Health & Well Being Boards, The NHS, a wide range of support services and young people from a variety of educational establishments.
In her opening speech, Dawn Dines said, “Factual evidence, hard hitting effectiveness and an understanding of young people are crucial. Our project shows the outcomes when knife crime occurs and also the actions that directly affect family, friends, associates and whole communities. This week being the 20th anniversary of Steven Lawrence's murder, reminds us of the long term effects of such a crime and how it behaves like a virus in the community long after the initial act.”
“As a social enterprise that is passionate to keep the health and social care of young people, our aim for today, is to be co-productive and develop a multi agency action plan on youth knife crime, as part of the national movement to eliminate this problem, we all need to work better at this, to safeguard our future generations.”
Judge Cottle outlined the consequences under the law of the possession and use of knives and reflected on the views of the Criminal Justice System on sentencing and the seriousness of offending.
He said, “How is this message to be brought home to those who might be minded to slip a knife into their pocket before going out for the evening? As a circuit judge, it is beyond my remit to suggest an answer to a significant social problem. I can tell you about the consequences but it falls to others to do what is possible to prevent those consequences.
"However, in the years that I have been sitting as a circuit judge I would like to think I have gained some experience in dealing with countless cases involving young people and that experience qualifies me to offer some suggestions. We need to raise the general awareness among young people not just of the dangers of carrying and using knives but of the consequences that will flow from involvement in the criminal justice system. How do you do that? It seems to me that the answer has to be effective and early intervention.
"We need to be proactive and not reactive; the focus must be upon education in schools, perhaps as part of the national curriculum. Unless the problem is addressed from an early age the opportunity will be lost to get home the message. If you miss or do not take the opportunity to address this and many other social problems at an early stage you have probably lost it forever and thereafter society is in the position of reacting to the consequences of an opportunity lost with all that flows from that.”
Tony Hogg introduced the role of the Police & Crime Commissioner and outlined his support for the project in reducing knife crime and violent offending.
Superintendent Eastwood said that early intervention and prevention is far better that dealing with offending. Knife crime, violent and antisocial behaviour is taken very seriously. He went on to say that a multi agency approach to try to eradicate the problem areas is the way forward.
The conference were shown a documentary compiled by SOS Global, including a knife crime victim, an ex-gang member, the experiences of a barrister, a home office pathologist and the views of Exeter’s CCTV manger on what actual happens on the streets.
To conclude a facilitation session was introduced and each member was asked for their commitment and one action for them to pledge so that working together the group could make a real difference in safe guarding our communities from knife and gang related crime.