Young people met for crisis talks last week to help devise a community-led strategy for tackling youth crime.

More than 150 teenagers from across Lambeth met at the borough’s town hall in Brixton last Tuesday (October 11) to discuss plans to move youth centres and funding into a community trust led by people from gang ridden areas.

As part of the changes, each neighbourhood or estate could select which youth services they required to reduce serious crime.

Other plans included looking at ways to introduce peer mentors for vulnerable children and boosting the numbers of apprenticeships in the borough. The strategy, which is being developed in line with Lambeth Council’s co-operative model, has taken on new significance since rioting and looting hit Brixton and Streatham in August.

Leading the summit, Youth Mayor David Oyedele, 16, said: "There are already real alternatives out there to gangs and violence and the summit was about helping young people find and unlock these opportunities.

"There is a lot we can all do but it is clear the vast majority of young people in Lambeth understand that talking, not violence, is the best way to bring about change.

"It’s up to us to find a way to get through to the small minority of young people who are involved in serious violence, crime, and gangs."

Lambeth Council Leader, Councillor Steve Reed, said: "This was about the council and young people coming together to share ideas on how we can tackle crime together.

"There is a responsibility on all of us to keep Lambeth safe but it is absolutely vital that we listen to everyone’s voice and take action together."