Crime Prevention
With little to do and few positive role models to follow crime and anti social behaviour is a real temptation for young people in Tower Hamlets. The work we do with them gives us a chance to challenge such behaviour and encourage groups to mix regardless of area or race.
We have worked closely with the local Police force and Safer Neighbourhood Teams throughout the year, in particular by partnering together on a number of events as part of our Summer programme, as well as playing an active role in the SNT Stepney Interfaith Forum, bringing people from different faith groups together to help build community cohesion.
A police sergeant in Stepney told us about one estate with very high levels of anti social behaviour and which was averaging as many as 200 windows smashed each month. Over the weeks when we specifically worked on the estate there were no windows smashed and the crime levels have remained lower as we continue to engage.
The tournament saw teams of young people, City Gateway staff and local policeman all taking to the pitch both against and alongside one another. It was a rare opportunity to see such a range of people getting on so well together and it had a big impact in helping them understand and respect one another - the standard of football was also incredibly high with a nail biting finish to the final match!
“City Gateway has brought young people of different races together in this predominantly Bengali area”
Safer Neighbourhood Team
Metropolitan Police
