SOUTHWARK LIB DEM MP AND COUNCILLORS TO MEET THE MET OVER GANG CRIME

12.00.00pm GMT Wed 1st Nov 2006

Southwark Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes and senior local councillors will meet this Friday with Tim Godwin, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to discuss the urgent issue of gang crime in the borough.

Simon Hughes, MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, Cllr Nick Stanton, Leader of the Council, Cllr Jeff Hook, Executive Member for Community Safety, Cllr Caroline Pidgeon, Executive Member for Children's Services and Cllr Ade Lasaki, will raise the concerns of residents and business people about the recent spate of knife and gun crime, especially that related to gang activities.

Cllr Nick Stanton said:

"There is no place for gangsters or gun crime in Southwark. We are sick of being a battleground in the drug turf war. We want a top level commitment from the Met to respond to the reality of gang crime in Camberwell and Peckham with the seriousness it deserves. The incident today (Wednesday) proves that this is an on-going problem and not an issue that has run its course."

Simon Hughes MP said:

"The recent growth in gun crime in south London is deeply worrying. If gangs are not broken up early, and their leaders not clearly in the police's sights, then the problem will worsen and more innocent individuals will be caught up. There have been significant improvements - the price of slipping back is too high to pay."