Borough Gangs Unit Aims to Give Its Backing to Parents

Specialist team introduces weekly support sessions

A Gangs Unit support session at the Minaret Community Centre

March 17, 2025

A newly formed specialist team which aims to prevent young people in Hammersmith and Fulham from getting caught up in gang violence is aiming to transform the way local families are protected from crime and exploitation.

The H&F Gangs, Violence and Exploitation Unit helps parents and carers spot early warning signs of organised crime and gang exploitation

It works with the police to protect vulnerable young people aged 10 to 25 and tries to them to lead a life away from organised crime.

Backed by a £1million-a-year investment from the council, the team says it has supported 155 local young people and families since launching.

Police Constable, Laura Searle, from the Proactive Offender Management Unit in central and west London, said, The Gangs Unit has become an irreplaceable partner in our work. Their approach to building trust within our communities helps prevent crime and saves lives."

The unit's latest initiative – weekly support sessions for parents – are designed to prevent exploitation before it happens by helping parents identify early warning signs.

"It's a place for parents to be vulnerable and open up," said community development outreach worker, Nkechi Ampabeng. "Parenting is the hardest job in the world, and once a child reaches a certain age, you're having to navigate challenges not just in the confines of your home."

For one longtime West Ken resident, the support proved vital when her 16-year-old son became a victim of Serious Youth Violence.

"Before this, he had always been a good kid," she said. "After starting secondary school, he started hanging out with the wrong crowd. I felt lost and didn't know how to help him get back on track."

After reaching out to the Minaret Community Centre on North End Road, she was connected with the H&F Gangs Unit.

"I was initially hesitant to share our personal struggles with others," she said. "I was concerned about privacy and the potential for judgment."

Through their support, she found the help she needed. The team helped connect them with a therapist who could support her son.

Its youth programme also helped him secure an apprenticeship, "giving him a sense of purpose and a path towards a brighter future," according to his mother. The weekly group sessions became a lifeline for her. "I was educated about the challenges our children face, what signs to look out for and what action to take."

Potential indicators include their child suddenly bringing home new valuables, wearing new clothes, or running with a new social group.

The sessions are helping parents living in and around the West Kensington, White City, and Lytton estates (W14), and Peabody and Clem Attlee estates in Fulham, along with other youth activities such as street dancing, boxing, and make-up artist training.