Blair Accused of Being Unaware of Black Efforts on Gang Culture

Black Christian leaders have said Prime Minister Tony Blair's comments on Wednesday about black communities did not recognise the work these communities - and especially black churches - are doing to tackle criminal gangs, the Evangelical Alliance has said.

|PIC1|The Prime Minister, speaking in Cardiff Wednesday, said Britain's black communities must speak out against gang culture.

During Blair's speech he admitted that the law needed strengthening, adding: "But we won't stop this by pretending it isn't young black kids doing it."

In particular, the prime minister insisted that the seven under-16's murdered in London in the past 3 months were not a symptom of a wider social problem but the work of individuals. He stated: "In respect of knife and gun gangs, the laws need to be significantly toughened. There needs to be am intensive police focus on these groups. The ringleaders need to be identified and taken out of circulation - if very young, as some are, put in secure accommodation.

"The black community - the vast majority of whom in these communities are decent, law-abiding people, horrified at what is happening - need to be mobilised in denunciation of this gang culture that is killing innocent young black kids."

However, members of the Black Christian Leaders' Forum have said black communities are already doing so. Bishop Joe Aldred, the Secretary for Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs for Churches Together in England, said: "I'm not sure where the Prime Minister has been, or who he's been talking to, if he thinks black communities have not been denouncing the gangs and gang activity.

"Black communities, particularly the black Christian communities, have not only been denouncing this evil, but have been hard at work, taking action to try to find solutions. There are now several church-led initiatives around the country working with young people and parents.

"What is needed is not further legislation, when what we're dealing with are very young people who will simply be further criminalised."

Bishop Aldred added: "What we need is better support for those initiatives working with young people, parents, schools, and community groups, to help to give - particularly to our young boys - some sense of a better code of behaviour, aspiration, and a sense of belonging."

The Rev Katei Kirby, Chief Executive of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, said Blair had highlighted an issue which is of continuing concern, not just to black communities but to wider society.

"It is unfortunate, however, that the Prime Minister failed to recognise the proactive and measurable contribution of Black Christian communities in tackling these issues," she said.

"Through inter-church and community initiatives such as Street Pastors and Black Boys Can, and through the range of voluntary youth programmes run by black-majority churches across the country, the challenge to young people to value their lives and the lives of others is a continuing core message."

She added that while local authorities have been reducing their investment in activities for young people, black churches have maintained, or increased, the resources committed to youth work development. She explained: "It would be more helpful if while highlighting the issue, that we, along with the Government, recognise the range of issues that contribute to the current situation.

"Youth work must become a key part of the Government's resourcing agenda, not with a 'project' or short term mentality, but as a long-term investment for citizenship."

Rev Kirby concluded: "With the Government's resources, the church's commitment and the community's support, we can continue to be part of this investment."