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Strathclyde Police are urging young people not to be the next gang member tagged 'R.I.P' as it launches the latest phase of the Campaign Against Violence focusing on knife crime and collective violence. "Think about what you're doing and where you might end up - before it's too late"
This is the message which will be displayed on posters in bus shelters to drive home the message that being involved in a gang can have fatal consequences for gang members and devastating long term effects on their friends and families. Bus shelter technology
By targeting bus shelters where young people often gather police are hoping the posters will make them think twice about getting drawn into the gang culture and the mindless violence that often goes with it. These posters use lenticular technology, giving a 3-D like effect, changing the image depending on which angle you look at it from. Radio and online support
Strathclyde Police will also be sponsoring the guest mix on Clyde One's "GB Experience" for 6 weeks. Broadcasting on Saturday nights, George Bowie's programme has a massive reach in the hardcore rave scene. Music and online communication are a big part of young people's lives and Strathclyde Police will be supporting the "GB Experience" and developing the "Break The Circle of Violence" Bebo site to engage with them. Progress made
The Gangs Task Force has made significant progress in tackling the issue of gang violence but the Force refuses to be complacent about the issue. Figures from the same phase last year showed a decrease of 25.3% in Youth-Related Complaints compared to 2008, and Strathclyde Police is committed is continue this trend. Officers will carry out more stop searches to identify knife and weapon carriers. They will target crime "hotspots" and put in place crime prevention measures. Analysis from the last eight years enables officers to identify crime hot spots and anticipate the type of crime which is likely to increase in certain areas throughout the year. This means officers and other resources can be dedicated when and where they're most needed and can have the maximum impact. Price to pay
Chief Superintendent Campbell Corrigan, Strathclyde Police, said "There are too many young lives lost through this kind of mindless violence and we will take action against gang members. We know that some young people feel they get a sense of belonging from being in a gang - but there's a price to pay for that. They could become the next murder victim or perpetrator. "Our officers see the consequences of gang violence every day and we are determined not only to deal with the aftermath but to try and prevent it happening in the first place. "Our motivation is simple - we want to make our streets safer for everyone but we need the public's help with this. They have a vested interest in the areas they live and we're asking them to let us know if they have any information about gangs in their area. Although we have more officers on the street than ever before we also need the public to be our eyes and ears. "We must remember that the vast majority of young people in our Force area are not involved in gang culture or violence and we don't think they should be given a bad name by those who are." |
