CF Support Services have seconded a Senior Support Worker to a special urban street gang team formed by Suffolk police to crack down on violent gang crime in Ipswich.
The creation of a taskforce to combat gang violence and crime came after an escalation in knife crimes which police believe are associated with gangs, often from outside Suffolk, targeting vulnerable young people to become involved in the supply and distribution of drugs across the County.
This has led to the creation of a multi-agency specialist urban street gang team to focus on the growing problem. A police spokeswoman said: “The team form the basis of an integrated partnership approach being developed that will target those intent on continuing to act in this way by working with partner agencies to identify those vulnerable to becoming involved, whilst robustly pursuing those who are engaged in these activities.
“This is about investing in the long term to ensure young people in Suffolk are diverted away from becoming involved in crime.
“Whilst arresting individuals is one solution stopping young people from becoming involved in crime through education, diversion and rehabilitation has to be our long term focus.”
CF’s expertise in working with challenging young people, from the most disadvantaged sections of society, who are most at risk of grooming and exploitation from gangs, will be a useful asset to the team’s understanding of the issue.