Christian Leaders Call for Long-Term Solutions to Gun Crime

Christian leaders have called on politicians to avoid a "knee-jerk reaction" to the problems of gun crime.

|PIC1|The call comes as the Home Secretary, John Reid, hosts another summit on gun crime - the second in two weeks.

Churches have continued to fight against gun crime through initiatives including Gunzdown, Street Pastors, the Peace Alliance, and ongoing youth work.

Church leaders have said that any strategy to deal with the problem needs to include a strategic, long-term partnership between politicians, parents, schools, community groups, and the police.

In addition, the leaders have urged that statutory authorities need to understand and support the work that voluntary organisations, especially churches, do with young people. They also called for long-term and sustainable partnerships to address some of the most serious problems with young people and families.

Rev Katei Kirby, of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, said: "Gun crime and knife crime is a national issue that concerns all of us. It is not a 'Black issue'; it is a social issue that is destroying families and communities. It is going to take families, churches and the wider communities to solve it in partnership with the police and politicians."

Rev Nims Obunge, of the Peace Alliance, said: "Gun crime and knife crime can only be tackled effectively if communities work together with the police and other criminal justice partners."

Community action, vigils in places like Birmingham and Manchester, along with the peace walk against gun and knife crime in London in February saw churches and community leaders say, "Enough is enough; we all need to work together to keep guns off our streets."

Bishop Joe Aldred, Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs, Churches Together in England, said: "The churches have an important role to play in crime reduction and community cohesion strategies. We commend the good work they currently do and would encourage statutory agencies to work more effectively with churches and interfaith agencies as they seek to provide pastoral care for families and vulnerable young people."