Events and Exhibitions
Lookout London photos to be showcased at police gangs conference
Photographs from both Lookout London groups will be showcased at the Police & Criminal Justice conference Tackling Gangs and Serious Youth Violence, on Friday 30th September 2011.
As David Cameron talks about ‘declaring war on gangs’ and the public looks for simple targets to blame the criminal activity that took place during the spree of rioting and looting in August, the perception of young people in Britain is in danger of falling to a new low. Despite the fact that fewer than a quarter of those charged for criminal activity during the riots were under 18, the media coverage and political responses have been filled with references to ‘feral youth’ and ‘violent teenagers’. The issues of gangs and knife crime have gained media prominence once again as if they are connected to the same simple problem – the existence of a disrespectful, uncontrollable and lawless generation.
Representing young people only as part of these social problems damages any attempts to improve the situation on the streets. The implication is that young people are only important or worth talking about when they are engaged in criminal activity, and the pressures and dangers they face themselves are not discussed or dealt with. The issues are to do with poverty, lack of opportunity and boredom, not age, and young people should be engaged in identifying and building solutions rather than being ignored until involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour, and then being stamped on by the legal system.
As police, criminal justice professionals, MPs and youth workers gather in Westminster to discuss the issues and potential solutions, the presence of the work from Lookout London will ensure that young people’s experiences and perspectives are not forgotten.
Image: © Angelika Stolarz 2011 / Chapter 1 / PhotoVoice
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