May To Hold Summit On Gang Culture

Theresa May, home secretary, is to host an international summit on how the country should deal with gangs, as part of the government’s response to last month’s riots.












Ms May, who appeared in front of MPs at the home affairs select committee on Thursday, conceded that only about a quarter of those involved in the violence in August are now thought to have had gang affiliations – fewer than thought. However, she said it was still vital to bring the problem under control.

“We are looking as widely as possible at what has worked [elsewhere] to make sure that what has worked is put in process,” Ms May said.

The home secretary reiterated that the government will also be canvassing the views of organisers of successful gang projects in the UK, such as the Strathclyde police scheme in Glasgow and another council-funded initiative in Waltham Forest, north London.

The prime minister has already announced that Bill Bratton, former chief of both New York and Los Angeles police departments, will be flying to the UK to give advice at the event in October.

However David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham – the borough in which the rioting started after the fatal police shooting of local resident Mark Duggan – suggested the focus should be on reassuring communities that the police would be able to restrain criminals more effectively in the future.

“We must never, ever allow criminals and gang members to run the streets,” he told the committee in an impassioned outburst. “The advances in community policing were important, but it needed to go further.”

Mr Lammy said he had concerns about Operation Trident, the Metropolitan Police’s campaign to reduce gun crime in the black community, which organised the operation when Mr Duggan was shot.

“When police come in from outside the borough, things can go wrong,” Mr Lammy said.

The MP added that he had seen evidence that riot perpetrators had been inciting violence on BlackBerry Messenger days before the disorder in Tottenham began. “I am deeply worried that the police seemed unaware of these networks,” Mr Lammy told the committee.

Separately, in a speech at the children’s charity Barnardo’s, Sadiq Khan, shadow justice secretary, castigated Ken Clarke, justice secretary, for making “simplistic assertions” when he called rioters a “feral underclass”.

“This kind of language absolves people from responsibility for their actions, implying that somehow they had no self-control or no choice,” Mr Khan said.

“Instead we will be looking at how we can make young people responsible citizens who understand the consequences of their actions and have the opportunities and the means to stay away from crime.”

Six Arrested After Three Girls, All 15, 'Gang Raped' In Ipswich Flat

Police investigating the gang rape of three 15-year-old girls have arrested three teenagers and three men, officers said tonight.

The girls were subjected to the brutal attack in a town centre flat in Ipswich, Suffolk, in the early hours of yesterday.

Officers were called to the property shortly after 3am, when a friend of one of the victims raised the alarm.












Attack: The gang rape occurred in a flat in Ipswich town centre.

A police spokeswoman has now confirmed that six people, including three teenagers, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Detectives have not elaborated on details of the brutal attack, or how the men were able to enter the flat.

A police spokesman said the victims did not know their attackers and the men had not been invited into the flat.

'Suffolk Police are at present dealing with a number of allegations of rape at a property in Ipswich,' the spokesman said.

'Officers were called at just after 3am this morning, Friday 26 August by a friend of one of the victims and a scene is currently in place at the property.

'Three female victims, all aged 15 years old, are being spoken to and given assistance by specially trained officers this morning.

'A police pod has been set up for concerned residents to talk to officers.'

The three girls have been interviewed by specially-trained officers but did not need hospital treatment, the spokesman added.

Earlier today, a 19-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of cannabis while another 19-year-old and a 17-year-old were also arrested on suspicion of rape.

They were interviewed at the Ipswich Police Investigation Centre before being bailed this evening and ordered to return on October 13 pending further inquiries.

And this evening police confirmed that three more arrests have now been made.

A spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary said: 'Police investigating after receiving allegations that three teenage girls were raped have made three further arrests.

'Three men, one aged 25 and two aged 20 have been taken into custody where they will be interviewed by detectives.'

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Luckett said: 'This is a very serious offence and officers from the Major Investigation Team are working closely with colleagues to find out exactly what happened and who was involved.

'The victims are currently receiving support from police and partner agencies through the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

'This appears to be an isolated incident and we would like to reassure members of the public that these types of offences are extremely unusual, both in Suffolk and nationally.'

Forensic teams were at the flat today.

Anyone with information should contact Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

England Riots: David Cameron Returns To Rhetoric Of 'Broken Society'

Prime Minister David Cameron announces his "social fightback" with a series of cliches he has been working on for years.



Speaking at a youth centre in Witney, his Oxfordshire constituency, the Prime Minister repeatly referred to "social fightback" and mending Britain's "broken society" as he struggled to get a hold on one of the biggest crises of his premiership.

"The broken society is back at the top of my political agenda," the Prime Minister said in the speech in which he outlined measures to prevent a repeat of the country's worst riots in decades.

The Government is already under fire for its determination to press ahead with police budget cuts and its decision to recruit US ''Supercop'' William Bratton as an adviser on tackling gang culture in the UK.

In an escalating war of words with the police, one chief constable warned that David Cameron risks losing the support of the police. Three other police chiefs have also openly questioned the Prime Minister’s approach to law and order.