Challenging weapon crime with the arts (From Haringey Independent)

Challenging weapon crime with the arts

4:29pm Thursday 13th July 2006

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by RACHEL ROUSE

"Since about 2002, the number one concern of young people in Haringey has switched from issues such as pregnancy, to a fear of gun and, more often, knife crime," explains Calvin Smith, community education officer at Jacksons Lane, Archway Road, Highgate.

This trend prompted Mr Smith and his colleagues from the centre's outreach programme, which visits schools and youth groups, to launch a project to try to combat the increase in knife and gun crime in Haringey and Camden.

The ten-day Arts Against Guns and Knives Festival, which features performances from young people, started on Wednesday last week.

Many of the young people taking part have come into direct contact with this type of crime, and it is these people that Mr Smith hopes the festival will help.

"We're hoping that we're providing an outlet for young people to use creative rather than negative energy," he says. "Hopefully they will realise that there is an opportunity to gain status and respect for things other than violence."

Although gun and knife crime figures have fallen in Haringey over the past year, they are still a major problem in the borough. Incidents of gun crime fell from 206 to 150 offences between May 2005 and May 2006, and the recent knife amnesty, which ended on June 30, resulted in 28 arrests, with 81 knives seized and 45 knives surrendered.

One of the productions is a rap opera' called Put it Down which focuses on different perspectives of gun and knife crime in the community.

The production aims to challenge common perceptions in some communities, where distrust of the police is commonplace. "We want to encourage people to communicate with the police and each other," says Robert Joseph, a trainee workshop leader who is taking part in the production. "We want to challenge the culture that turns a blind eye to knife and gun crime."

The festival will culminate in a symposium on Saturday, where an audience will be invited to comment on the performances and the issue of knife and gun crime.

Mr Smith is hoping to use the comments and suggestions raised in this discussion to produce an educational pack for an outreach drama workshop that can be taken to schools and youth groups.

"We've had a really positive response to the shows so far," says Mr Smith.

And he hopes that Jacksons Lane will be able to repeat the festival's success next year. "As long as the fear of knives and guns remains a key concern in the community, Jacksons Lane will continue to address this issue," he says.

u Ujamaa Arts will be performing Souls of Safer Streets, a poetry drama with dance and rap, jazz, funk and reggae music, focusing on crime and violence, on July 14 at 8pm.

The symposium will take place between 3pm and 5pm. Tickets for all events cost between £2 and £6. This will be followed by the festival symposium from 3pm to 5pm on July 15. For more information visit www.jacksonslane.org.uk/ againstgunsandknives

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