Central City News: MP welcomes refuges from gang culture; PERRY BARR.Byline: By Jonathan Walker Jonathan Walker (born 1799 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts - died May 1, 1878 near Muskegon, Michigan), aka "The Man with the Branded Hand," was an American reformer who became a national hero in 1844 when he was tried and sentenced as a slave stealer following his attempt to help seven POLITICAL EDITOR PLANS for safe houses where Birmingham youngsters can escape gang culture have been welcomed by a city MP. Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, has revealed she is considering opening up safe houses where gang members will live, to help them escape from a life of crime. The proposal was welcomed by Khalid Mahmood Khalid Mahmood (born 13 July 1961 in Kashmir) is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. He has been Member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr since the 2001 general election. (Lab, Perry Barr), whose constituency was the scene of the gang-related murder of two innocent teenage girls, Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis, in 2003. He said young people also needed more support at school to resist pressure to join gangs. Ms Smith, MP for Redditch, outlined the proposals in a Home Office response to a House of Commons House of Commons: see Parliament. inquiry. The aim is to provide a "gang exit strategy" to deal with the problem of young people finding themselves unable to leave gangs because of peer pressure or bullying. Mr Mahmood said: "One of the difficulties people have if they are trying to escape that life is that they are still in the same environment. "It makes it difficult for them to end their association with a gang, because of bullying or the fear of being hurt. "If they can be taken out of that environment, then it is a step towards changing their lives. "If a youngster is skipping school to take part in gang-related activities, they need support." |
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