Police and council at war over Birmingham gang list
“At one time they did want to talk about schools sitting in gang-related areas. But if a school is in a neighbourhood connected with gang activity that doesn’t mean the school is connected with gang activity.
“At one point the police were referring to schools as gang hot spots. But they are not hot spots for gangs, they just happen to be in localities where gangs operate.”
Most of the information in the document, explaining how to recognise the signs of gang membership among young people, was a year old and had first been aired at a briefing session for head teachers, he said.
But before the document was tabled at a scrutiny inquiry into gangs, the list of schools was added “from police intelligence”.
Mr Howell said: “The decision to put the list in the report was clearly inappropriate. It should not have happened.”
He said the list gave the “misleading” impression that the schools were associated with criminal activity when there was no evidence to suggest this was the case.
He added that a map showing locations of schools in parts of the city controlled by the Burger Bar Boys and Johnson Crew was simply a geographical statement and did not imply that classrooms were infiltrated by criminals.
And he insisted Birmingham had taken great strides towards eradicating gang infiltration in schools and was recognised as one of the most forward-thinking councils in the country.
He added: “It is not surprising people are upset. The reality is these are schools where there is no evidence at all that children are engaged in gang activities.”
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We do not wish to lose sight of the important issues highlighted in the report, which was designed to prevent our young people from becoming exposed to gang culture.
“The information contained in the report was compiled by the Birmingham Safety Partnership to inform head teachers and teaching staff and has been well received.
“The decision to put the document on the city council’s website was taken by a member of the local authority. It would be inappropriate to comment on the reasoning behind that decision.”
Meanwhile, at a council education scrutiny about the gangs story last night, Coun Les Lawrence, Cabinet member for education, said he hoped “the press print a retraction and apology in big letters on the front page” for publishing the list.
He added: “Schools, council and police ... have been working significantly with young people to bring about considerable change.”
Committee chairman Coun Jon Hunt said “I think it was clearly over the top. I was quoted in the piece and I stand by it entirely.”
He said he would write to the chairman of the committee Coun Keith Barton, to ask him to look into how the list was compiled, why it was compiled and what steps would be taken to engage with the schools named.
Mary Edwards, Church of England representative, said “I’m deeply concerned such an issue has been made public. It does create entirely the wrong impression.
“I know some very good schools are included on that list and I’m very concerned for them.”
Full Birmingham schools list
