A £3million scheme to tackle street violence by telling gang members to change their ways or face an intense police crackdown has been launched.

Project Ceasefire will see criminals and their families offered help with housing, addiction, education and employment in an attempt to tackle the root causes of gang problems.

But if those targeted refuse support, police have pledged to place them under intense scrutiny.

The project, which will also see more anti-gang work in schools, is loosely based on policies introduced in Boston, USA, and Strathclyde, Scotland, which focused on wider social problems linked to gang activity.

It will invlove council staff and visiting families to offer up to nine hours support a week to address issues affecting them.

MPs, councillors and police officers attended the launch of the project on Friday (January 28).

It comes after an upsurge in suspected gang-related violence across the borough over the summer months, including non-fatal stabbings and shootings.

Speaking at the launch, council leader Chris Robbins said: "What is clear is that none of us can deal with the gang issue on our own.

“We have to ensure that all these different parts work together.

"Gang violence only directly affects a very small proportion of Waltham Forest, but the devastation of it ripples through the whole of the community."

Borough commander Steve Wiseby said the project will run alongside new measures such as the recently launched 'gang injunctions' which can ban individuals from entering certain areas or wearing gang colours.

He said: "Youth and gang violence is a priority for us. And here in Waltham Forest working with the council I'm glad to say they agree and there is a real positive team attitude."

Mr Wiseby said plans were in progress to place police workers in the same offices as council staff so information can be shared.

Mr Duncan Smith told the launch: "It's not possible to just arrest our way out of the problem.

"I am proud that the borough has come forward at last and come up with a really good plan. The key point is nothing works unless everyone is working together." "Where east London goes today, I think the rest of London should follow tomorrow."

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