Crime prevention minister Norman Baker: we’ll do more to stop gang violence against women

 
Action: advocate Emily Wareham, left, Lola Mustapha and Norman Baker Picture: Alex Lentati
Lindsay Watling17 April 2014

Crime prevention minister Norman Baker has admitted the problem of violence against women at the hands of gangs has been “underplayed” and pledged to do more to tackle the issue.

On a visit to the Safer London Foundation in Southwark he told the Standard: “You think of gangs and boys with knives come to mind, but there is another side as well. It is deeply depressing — in terms of the relationship between boys and girls we seem to have gone back in time.”

The Liberal Democrat MP heard from a group of women affected by gang violence in London as well as professionals working to support them. They spoke about the derogatory language used to describe female gang members and the realities some of them face, including sexual exploitation and kidnapping. They also emphasised the need to improve sex education so girls learn about consent.

Lola Mustapha, 19, a Safer London youth ambassador, said: “The word rape among some young people doesn’t really exist. Until someone says this wasn’t meant to be done to you, people think it is normal. Girls are getting sexually exploited and they don’t even know it. They need help.”

The foundation’s Empower programme supports hundreds of girls aged 11 to 18 who are at risk of or involved in gang activity. A £360,000 Home Office grant has funded four “young people’s advocates” across six boroughs.

The issue has been highlighted by the Standard’s award-winning Frontline London campaign.

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