Archbishop Tutu backs scheme to tackle gun crime in Merseyside

Jan 30 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

ARCHBISHOP Desmond Tutu is backing a new project to tackle gun crime on Merseyside.

The foundation which bears his name has launched the initiative in partnership with Merseyside Police and the Community Foun-dation for Merseyside charity.

It will use the principles estab-lished by the archbishop at South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission at the end of the apartheid era. This achieved the transformation of South Africa from a violent and oppressive regime to democracy without descending into vengeful chaos.

The scheme, to be launched today, is part of a nationwide project to implore policymakers to learn the lessons of South Africa, and coincides with the number of UK firearms offences topping 10,000 for the last year. It will explore origins of gang culture in the UK, and devise new approach-es to tackle anti-social behaviour.

A new fund will be established to offer grants to pay for activities for young people vulnerable to falling into criminal activity.

Speaking in a pre-recorded address to a reception today to announce the partnership, Archbishop Desmond Tutu will voice his support for the work of the Foundation.

He will urge policymakers to address underlying causes leading to young people, who have fallen foul of the youth justice system, becoming demonised by society.

David Evans, CEO of the Tutu Foundation, said last night: “We are trying to reach hard-to-reach young people to help them look at causes that lead them to become disaffected and involved in criminal activity.

“We will be working with existing frontline projects and applying the principles that Desmond Tutu used in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.”

Mr Evans added: “The Foundation, echoing the Archbishop’s views, believes every young person has unique value and worth.

“The Foundation’s work aims to support frontline groups working with young people and their families so that spirals of low expectations and social exclusion can be broken and transformed.”

Sir Al Aynsley Green, the child-ren’s commissioner, will also be speaking with community volun-teers and young people who have had direct experience of finding themselves cast off by society, but who have managed to overcome many of their difficulties.

The reception, at the South African High Commission in London, will bring together policy makers, diplomats, business leaders and NGO representatives.

alanweston