Written by Dr Angela Herbert MBE, MSc Ed, Ba (Hons), PCET, D32,3,4, DPQS
In a world filled with inequality, problems, and despair, there are a few unique individuals who are dedicated and committed to making a positive change. We had the privilege of interviewing
Dr Angela Herbert, Chair of the Violent Crime Prevention Board. The VCPB organisation is dedicated to addressing the issues surrounding young people from diverse communities helping to implement much-needed solutions. Read our exclusive interview with the inspirational Angela and find out how you can get involved. Our youths are our responsibility.
1. You are the / Chair of a London Borough Independent Advisory Group and (1a) Co-Chair of the Violent Crime Prevention Board Can you tell us more about the organisation?
1. Chair of a London Borough Independent Advisory Group
After the tragic, racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in April 1993 Sir William Macpherson was commissioned to review the handling of the investigation into the murder. One of the conclusions made by the subsequent report that was published in October 1999, deemed the Metropolitan Police institutionally racist. Independent Groups and Boards were established thereafter, to give the community a voice and to act as a critical friend to the police regarding matters of interest to the community.
I chair a police independent group in a London Borough with a team of specialists and committed community members and leaders of all ages and backgrounds. I have the honour of leading the team which focuses on the following themes to support the prevention of violent crime and to champion progress and positive relationships between the police and the community.
Education – In partnership with the local authority and directly with schools, we are trying to encourage the prevention of school exclusions through referring positive interventions. We are also encouraging and championing children and young people to stay in school and encourage them to engage in education as best as possible as the impact of exclusion causes long-term damage to their future employment and economic status.
Stop and Search – We advise young people of their rights and responsibilities if stopped by the police. We consider the statistics presented by the police, which we interrogate as a team and ask questions to satisfy ourselves that correct and equitable practices are observed when stop and search is used. We as a board also join the police on response teams and community ‘walk-abouts’ where we observe police practices – how they engage with members of the public, to reassure the community and encourage positive relationships.
As a Board, we are hosting events locally to advise parents and children of their rights and how to respond to police intervention when stopped and searched. This initiative will be entitled C.C. Comply and Complain, as often people are arrested because of their behaviour having been stopped and not the suspect crime. We are encouraging the public to comply with the police S&S process and if they are unhappy with the experience, we will support them in making a complaint and will monitor the outcomes.
Multi-faith, Black and Christian churches – The two community leads, a Jewish Rabbi and a Christian Pastor, are responsible for this theme. They are encouraging faith leaders to open their doors to the community, in particular young people. We hope that this approach will help to address the lack of recreational facilities and activities to keep them occupied. An initiative called –Safe Havens has been established to encourage local industry to engage. There is also training that has recently taken place called Street Pastors, where members of the Christian Community works in partnership with the local community and police in hot-spots to ensure the safety of people in the area. The focus for this team is on after school patrols. https://www.streetpastors.org/about-us/what-is-a-street- pastor/
Crimes against Women and Girls – This theme looks specifically at crimes such as rape, prostitution, domestic abuse and FGM and support for females in the community. Where crimes are committed against women, a member of the team will represent the Group. We will be hosting family and parenting events to offer support to families that face a range of societal challenges. We will offer support and signposting to organisations that can give practical aid, such as victim support and local Women’s Aid initiatives.
Youth – This is an area that we are developing to engage young people on the Group to help us identify and understand what matters to them and provide services, influence and support where possible. This theme will include working with parents.
The VCPB is in the process of establishing a Youth Ambassador Scheme for young people to get involved as role models to encourage their peers to excel above the limits placed on them by the media, educational institutions and industry.
Race and Hate Crime – This is an area that we are vigilant about in the light of the impending Brexit process as the UK leaves the European Union. There have been crimes against people of colour and various faiths which as a group, we hope to be able to support the police in dealing with issues of race hate, but also to reassure and support the community to develop positive relationships and tolerance. We are also encouraging the appreciation of our differences and contributions that we make to an inclusive society.
1a. Violent Crime Prevention Board – Vision to Champion Progress
Similar themes are being covered as in the IAG, however, here, we consider practice across London, engaging with senior police staff Borough Commander Unit Commanders, who have responsibility for two or more London Boroughs. The Board launched in September 2018 having formed in June 2017, we spent a year and 3 months establishing a strategy and plans for how we would operate as a viable entity that would not only launch, but engage the community and work with partners to support the sustainable prevention of violent crime.
The VCPB, is an entity – a group of professionals, community influencers and leaders which operates in a similar fashion to the IAG described earlier. However, this Board includes the added theme of Health and Well-being – represented by a Trauma Surgeon with front-line experience and information that we can utilise in joining solutions based services together pan-London.
Another theme represented is Academia – research and analysis. This is key to the practice of the VCPB as we wish to understand why issues occur, how they might be addressed, what we know works well, test proofs of concept and celebrate success in preventing and deterring the small percentage of young people caught up in criminal activity.
The VCBP has a vibrant website that was developed by a young technical expert, who challenges our perspective and approaches to prevent violent crime, as we switched the acronym VCP – Violent Crime Prevention to define our main purpose which is to implement our Vision to Champion Progress.
We engage with a range of partners that share the same ethos and promote their brands and efforts under VCP. We this Brand to encourage organisations and individuals to register their interest. We pride ourselves in aligning with the community under the various themes, as the voice of the community, presenting their concerns as well as successes.
Since our launch, we receive communication from a range of partners and are engaging with organisations and institutions that support the cause – Crimestoppers for example, give people with information a place where they can anonymously report crime. Other organisations such as the Police and RAF
cadets are being promoted as they provide opportunities for young people to engage in extra- curricular activities that give them access to fun activities as well as places to learn the importance of self-discipline, practical and life skills. VCP supports young people who struggle to pay for their uniforms so that they can fully engage and enjoys the activity, thus preventing them from having the time to get involved in criminal activity.
Since the launch of the Board, we have engaged with a range of partners and supported initiatives – we see use our website as a platform, which will continue to develop and grow to provide signposting and a place where information is centred in one place for everyone, for their ease of access.
2. What inspired you to join the board?
I was invited to join the Brent IAG by the then Police Borough Commander after a discussion about the need for ‘cultural competence’ in the way that police engage with the members of diverse communities. I like to use opportunities as a volunteer to offer my views, experience and expertise when and wherever I can in the interest of all concerned. In this case, the police and community.
Joining these Boards are part of a journey that I began at the age of 24 when I became a Born-again Christian. I wanted to practice my faith beyond the church walls – so I volunteered in prisons, worked with children and their families, volunteering in primary school, develop training and articles that centred on self-esteem and personal development.
Until the end of December I was a Board member of the Prisoners Education Trust, which I sat on for three years. My purpose of being on the Board was to challenge and give voice, in particular to the 26% of the people of colour in prison in England and Wales.
It is my philosophy that I must make a difference in whatever I choose to do. I will not hold a seat without being a practical support or help. If I can take such a position and others from all walks of life do the same, we can make a huge difference by contributing to decision making processes.
3. What message would you give to young people who are affected by violent crime in urban areas?
The message that I give to young people is to value their uniqueness and purpose and to have hope. Value because life is short and precious – unlike video games, once you fall down, you do not get back up. That two individuals are not the same; everyone is unique – like a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. The shape and colour may be similar or even identical, however the space that each piece fits is unique and serves a specific purpose. There is a skill, strength, individuality and purpose that each human-being has been created to fulfil. I would instil a sense of hope – this is providing and signposting individuals to opportunities, mentors, role models, employment and families (in the community) to see and experience life, success, freedom, challenges and achievements. Young people need to know that they can experience a long and full life – as professionals, academics, teachers, lawyers, medical practitioners, journalists – the list goes on. Where there are needs, they can fill them. They need to have a long-term expectation of life – they should be able to consider what it might be like to sit with a grandchild on their knee and tell stories about how they navigated the challenges that life dealt them. This is not the reality for a few who witness their friends being mourned because their young life was snuffed out due to violent crime.
Family, friends, the community and society all feel the pain and joy that result from success and failure. The legacy of events – either positive or negative – will ripple through history. Individuals
need to focus their attention on success and achievements, not the media’s representation, particularly of black males. Not all young people are up-to-no-good!
4. The police link drill music to gang activity in the inner cities, do you think it’s a fair assumption or are young people misunderstood when expressing themselves through music?
I think that when there is a problem, society tries to find any common denominator and assert that ‘it’ is responsible for issues. There are a whole host of factors that contribute to the matters that ail society and result in unsavoury acts that lead to violence and gang identity. There isn’t any one thing – so my view is that drill music is not a cause but a contributory factor.
I do have an issue with the notion of gang though however – not negating that such entities exist – of course they do, however a gang or group can be a social or criminal construct. Sometimes, innocent groups and individuals are labelled ‘gang’. Those conducting criminal activity may use a range of modes/vehicles to express or mark their turf. The lyrics of songs can, as described by police as contributory and even inciting violent retorts as has been demonstrated, however economic and societal challenges, do not help.
Stop school exclusions, engage young people, give them hope of a positive and successful future and identifying remaining problems ‘problems’ will be clear.
5. What tips can prepare our young people for a better future?
Celebrating the fact that the majority of young people are not affected or associated with any criminal activity at all – the majority are achieving great successes and are a credit to themselves, their family, community and society. The media in all of its forms should share equal time promoting positive as well as negative news; however, we know that bad news sells.
Young people do not need tips to be prepared, they need legacy, positive role modelling and opportunities. They should not be excluded or ejected from learning opportunities and the social and academic learning environment of school.
I would support parents and adults within the community by providing guidance to their children – this may require seeking support from elsewhere, uncles, faith leaders etc., particularly when the biological father is not around. I encourage parents to be an active part of their children’s lives, to listen and give them opportunities to understand the challenges that they may face.
Tips for young people would be through encouraging and empowering adults to provide opportunities for young people.
Run from trouble – you know the difference between right and wrong. If you would hide to do it, it is wrong. If you feel uncomfortable and wouldn’t wish to be seen or caught, it is wrong. Avoid adults that offer them the world in an instant and don’t tell them the risks and consequences of poor decisions. Bad company spoils good character. Immerse yourself in the middle of good people, books, activities and extra-curricular activities such as Cadets, sports clubs, arts etc. Many opportunities are available for free.
6. There is a historical distrust between the police and the BME community. How can better relationships to combat this issue?
This is an interesting question – for me, there is always going to be distrust between authority and the people. With the police however, the way that I address this is by getting involved. If you want to change something, you need to be there, have a voice, share your voice and challenge the status- quo and opinions from within the organisation in order to affect and impact the community that distrusts authority, in this instance the police.
However, it is broader than this. There are other services that elicit distrust, this is the local authority, social services and other public services designed to support families. Their workloads are too heavy to consider the needs of the clients they are trained/paid to serve. Collectively, these services appear to collude, leaving the community vulnerable and powerless to challenge their decisions.
7. What advice do you have for parents who are struggling to keep their children from going down the wrong path?
I do not believe that the protection and support of children is for parents only – they have a responsibility as parents, however, as a community, we must all engage and offer our support as mothers, fathers, grandmothers, aunties and uncles. The list of responsible individuals extend to external contributors such as carers and teachers – people with authority and the power to enable young people, provide opportunities and expose them to aspirational activities and experiences.
The VCPB website is building its catalogue of reputable individuals or organisations, with replicable models that need only be tweaked to meet the assessed and identified needs of the recipients. In other words, using a model in one part of the country may work in principle, however nuances will need to be factored in to any programme delivery.
Parents need to identify and be open to a (small) network of trusted individuals that can support their parenting journey, tell them the truth, offer them advice and support. Where there are absent fathers, there are uncles, faith and community leaders and wider access to positive male role models. They need activities outside of the home such as joining a local club or group, study, retrain and try to gain economic freedoms – they are their children’s first role models. We have an abundance of women – I am one of them.
Parents need to join the Board of Governors at their local school and have a say in what happens to our young people. They can see how the school is run, whether they understand or not – be confident in their contributions as one that has made the sacrifice to be on the decision making process. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/becoming-school-governor
8. Do you believe there is a link between our education system and violent crime among young people? What positive changes would you like to see take place in our school system?
Many academic studies over the years identify and evidence links between children being excluded from the education system, their inclusion in Pupil Referral Units or alternative education provision and progression into prison, first as young offenders and later as adult prisoners. This is defined as the ‘pipeline’ from school to Prison.
I watch the news, read statistics, watch the media’s portrayal of young people (in London predominantly people of African Heritage, in other parts of the country such as Leeds, predominantly White) and read literature that reflects the ‘delinquent’ child; there is a predominant presence of adults who have no care or interest in the young people that are recruited for their own financial and selfish ill-gotten gains. These same adults would not expect their own children or family members to be involved in drugs or gang affiliation, responsible for much of the criminal activities that young people find themselves immersed in.
Unless the government, which is fully aware of the disproportionate exclusion of young people of African Heritage and the pipeline from school exclusion to Pupil Referral Units through to prison, takes responsibility and makes a political decision about how to break this cycle, violent crime will continue. If young people are excluded or rejected, it has a detrimental impact on them – This is nothing less than traumatic – exacerbated by lack of self-worth, esteem and value and a sense of failure. The media does a sterling job of reinforcing this.
Schools should be penalised for the number of children excluded from their schools. They should lose funding and their status on the schools league tables for lack of inclusion. They should be expected to have a broader interest in pupils – offer inclusive and interesting, relevant syllabi that addresses the National Curriculum, however, this should be through creative, representative content, presentation and engaging delivery of learning.
Parents as mentioned before, need to be on the schools Boards of Governors to have a say in decisions about young people and their future, understand the impact and implications that the decision to exclude a child has. 50% of young people in custody in England and Wales are from the BME community. This is unacceptable. We cannot sit back and sigh, we must stand up and be counted as adult to support the epidemic of failure attributed to our young people.
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/percentage-young-offenders-bme- background-2479696
9. How can people get involved with the VCPB?
The VCPB started off as a group, then became a Board and is now a movement. There is an opportunity for individuals to be a part of this. Go to the website and have a look around. You will meet the fantastic Board members and see some of the great initiatives that we support in the community.
If you believe in our ethos and have an interest, skills or services that would support the community, reach us through the Contact Us page – www.VCPB.org
Transformation Coaching
Angela is also a successful transformational coach whose coaching model has been evaluated due to the impressive, sustained progress that her coachees make during their journey with Angela.
She is a formidable public speaker specialising in ‘Unconscious Bias’, Self-Development, Exceeding Through Lived Experiences, Surviving and Fulfilling our Unique Purpose. She is a minister who encourages faith based facilities to utilise their members skills and to open their doors to the community, particularly youth.
To book Angela, please contact her at info@iotc-solutions.com
