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Ireland experts to help on gangs
Sunday 3rd January 2010, 9:00AM GMT.
Experts who helped tackle the Troubles in Northern Ireland are to be brought to Wolverhampton in a bid to prevent a growth of gun and gang culture in the city.
Representatives from Mediation Northern Ireland will offer tips and tactics on how to reduce conflict bet-ween different groups in the city.
The organisation was for-med in 1985 and is widely thought to have helped red-uce violence and bring stab-ility to the province through neutral negotiation.
The visit – pencilled in for spring this year – is just one of a raft of anti-gang measures drawn up in a report to Wolverhampton City Council’s Safer Communities Scrutiny Panel.
Other ideas include rem-oval of all gang-related graffiti and a greater use of anti-social behaviour orders to stamp out minor criminal behaviour which could lead to more serious crime.
Councillor Tersaim Singh, chairman of the panel, said: “It is important to look at all possible ways of dealing with these issues.
“No-one is suggesting Wolverhampton has anything like the problems in Northern Ireland but any expertise, any help, any suggestions, any idea we can get hold of will all be useful.”
The anti-gang programme will run this month to March 2011.
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Thats why i wont go anywhere near4 the place,its dangerous.
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What has my home town turned into!!! I visit regularly for football and family but have to say that it has plummeted rapidly downhill from what I remember when i left in the late 90′s! having spent a night out there recently I must say it was the most intimidating night out I have spent anywhere! Not a pleasant experience! Wolverhampton of the late nineties was a vibrant welcoming town that attracted revellers from across the region but the lack of investment from a shoddy city council have left the place in complete disarray and have allowed this gang culture to fester and take a real foothold!
It is so sad but you only have to walk the town centre streets on a Saturday lunchtime and see the gangs near mcdonalds full of attitude and the emo’s in queen square in vast numbers and seemingly out of control! There is no sense of order, the police and the council just seem to have given up! The town has a lawless and unsafe feeling to it, one which the council and police drastically need to get a grip of if the investment and pride is to return to our once great city!
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The gang members are only to happy to admit being in gangs – except in a court – but that shouldn’t stop the police taking them off the streets.
This idea of mediation from Northern Ireland…seems silly as I do not believe there are that many gangs in Wolverhampton….just networks of crooks.
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As usual from teh council To Little To Late
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stopping benefits for those with asbos and prison for carrying weapons or drugs might do the trick.
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this is my home town which made me suffer from paranoia and anxiety issues because of people.
people try and act too bad these days. what happened to respect?
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How do they intent to minor criminal behaviour, when police stations are closed? Oh I forgot..these are just “ideas”..that will no doubt disappear, once the election’s over. Actually solving crime is not politically beneficial..talking about solving it and making idle promises, is.
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Here’s an idea Councillor Tersaim Singh, seeing as you’re so apparently open to talks: travel back in a time machine and put a STOP to all the money Wolverhampton Council WASTED on race equality schemes. It’s been well-documented.
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we only have about 6 police officers – never see them on the streets on foot or cars
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THERES NO NEED TO BRING IN EXPERTS FROM IRELAND.ALL YOU NEED IS A GOOD JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND JUDGES.AND A DECENT POLICE FORCE BUT THE BLOODY EU HAS STOPPED THAT.WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
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Recently there has been alot of bad press about Wolverhampton. With wolverhampton being my home town, I think the only problem is that the Council/Government don’t create anything fun or productive for anyone aged 14-21, so most of them turn to drink, drugs and a life creating money through ilegal paths, trying to catch up with the rest of society.
Most of the so called “Gang members” that I know, went to the worst schools in Wolverhampton, where teachers go to work to earn money with no incentive to teach and to point kids in the right direction.
Also, I think a big problem these days is the press, by pointing the finger at the younger generations. This has created a large scale of pregudice towards them from older generations.
Please note that in now way am i saying that there is not a gang culture, you always get that 10% of people of drag the rest of the group down.
The only thing we would need to do to help the situation (Which would never happen!!) is try to help the people who need help on a voluntry basis, but it is easier to complian about misguided children than help out.
PS: Please dont slate Wolverhampton, my house price will go down!! :)
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