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Black youths 'being left to die' Black youths 'being left to die'
(about 2 hours later)
Politicians are "leaving black youths to die" by cutting funding to community groups, an independent adviser to the Home Office has said.Politicians are "leaving black youths to die" by cutting funding to community groups, an independent adviser to the Home Office has said.
Dr Derrick Campbell's comments follow what he said were three gang-related incidents - including two deaths - in the West Midlands in 24 hours. Dr Derrick Campbell's comments follow the violent deaths of three young men within 24 hours in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and London.
Dr Campbell told the BBC that funds earmarked for community cohesion were not going to the right organisations.Dr Campbell told the BBC that funds earmarked for community cohesion were not going to the right organisations.
The Home Office said it was committed to tackling gun and knife crime.The Home Office said it was committed to tackling gun and knife crime.
We have to ask the question whether there seems to be an acceptance that if another black youth is killed they are just another one that we don't have to worry about Dr Derrick CampbellWe have to ask the question whether there seems to be an acceptance that if another black youth is killed they are just another one that we don't have to worry about Dr Derrick Campbell
Dr Campbell said: "We have clear evidence of organisations which used to be funded and have delivered on outcomes but have suddenly not been supported. Dr Campbell, chairman of the National Independent Advisory Group on Criminal Use of Firearms, which advises the Home Office and the security services, said some organisations which were successful in tackling such crime had suddenly had funding cut.
"And we have to ask the question whether there seems to be an acceptance that if another black youth is killed they are just another one that we don't have to worry about." "And we have to ask the question whether there seems to be an acceptance that if another black youth is killed they are just another one that we don't have to worry about," he said.
Dr Campbell is chairman of the National Independent Advisory Group on Criminal Use of Firearms, which advises the Home Office and the security services. Dr Campbell went on to say there was hard evidence from community groups in the Birmingham area that their funding was being cut - a situation which he said was reflected nationally.
He said there was hard evidence from community groups in the Birmingham area that their funding was being cut - a situation which he said was reflected nationally. He claims the government is failing to ensure local councils get the money to the appropriate groups.
Dr Campbell said the government was failing to ensure local councils got the money to the appropriate groups.
'Serious questions''Serious questions'
"Black youths within this country have been left to die. And that's a very strong statement but it's a statement that seems to be borne out through evidence about black youths who seem to be at the top of the list when it comes to our youngsters being killed," he said."Black youths within this country have been left to die. And that's a very strong statement but it's a statement that seems to be borne out through evidence about black youths who seem to be at the top of the list when it comes to our youngsters being killed," he said.
"Now we're asking very serious questions of national government and local government as to why it seems that resources that have been allocated for community cohesion and other activities have not been going to those organisations," he said. "Now we're asking very serious questions of national government and local government as to why it seems that resources that have been allocated for community cohesion and other activities have not been going to those organisations."
The three incidents in the West Midlands all involving black youths included the shooting dead of Dimitri Foskin, 24, in the Newtown area of Birmingham on Saturday night. Dr Campbell spoke out after the fatal shooting of Dimitri Foskin, 24, in the Newtown area of Birmingham on Saturday night and the deaths of a 21-year-old man in Wolverhampton and an 18-year-old man in Walthamstow, London, in stabbings early on Sunday morning.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The government is committed to tackling gun, gang and knife crime and getting weapons off our streets. Responding to Dr Campbell's comments, a Home Office spokesman said: "The government is committed to tackling gun, gang and knife crime and getting weapons off our streets.
"In July we launched the £100m Youth Crime Action Plan which sets out a comprehensive package of tough enforcement and intensive prevention measures as well as more support for parents to tackle offending and reduce reoffending.""In July we launched the £100m Youth Crime Action Plan which sets out a comprehensive package of tough enforcement and intensive prevention measures as well as more support for parents to tackle offending and reduce reoffending."