Two Gang Injunctions Granted as Police and Council Tackle Gloucester Violence

05/Oct/2011

Gloucester City Council, in partnership with Gloucestershire Police and Gloucester City Homes, has obtained injunctions against two men for gang related activities. 
 
Ashley Nicholls-Perry, 19 of Summer Street in Stroud, and Freeston Horsford, 26 and of Cophall Street in Tipton, had conditions lasting 24 months placed on them at Bristol County Court which means they cannot get involved in gang activity.
 
Gloucester City Council, Gloucester City Homes and Gloucestershire Police sought the injunctions to tackle the level of gang related violence in the city.
 
A variety of conditions have been imposed, including non association with each other, exclusion from certain areas within the city and restrictions on their association with others.
 
Gloucester Superintendent Gary Thompson said: “This shows how determined police and our partner agencies are to disrupt the small number of gang members causing problems in the city.
 
“While they are very few in number and the issue is nowhere near the scale of big cities, the impact these people are having on others shouldn’t be underestimated. We’ve had reports of people being too scared to come out of their houses because of what they think might happen to them and that is simply unacceptable.
 
“These injunctions give us greater power and control over gang members. If these two can’t hang around with fellow gang members, we have a greater chance of getting to the root of the problem and changing their mindset.
 
”The community have supported this action throughout and we hope this support continues in order for us to enforce the conditions of this injunction.”
 
Julian Wain, City Council, Chief Executive, commented: “This is innovative partnership working at its best. We have taken this new legislation and used it to respond to the concerns of local residents. The outcome will be to help make their local communities safer and happier places to be.
 
“Let’s be clear. Gloucester is certainly not a ‘gang land’ capital. But there have been some problems and we are determined that as community leaders we work with the other agencies to stamp these activities out.
 
“By moving in this way we are demonstrating that Gloucester is a safe place to live, work and play. Our residents, visitors and investors can take comfort and reassurance that we will continue to work with our partners to keep it that way.”
 
Police have been running an anti-gang operation since July after a shooting incident in Beaufort Road and a stabbing incident in Coney Hill.
 
Since Operation Avenger began police have made a number of arrests of people suspected of offences including possessing weapons, assault and public disorder.
 
Superintendent Thompson continued: “I hope our actions so far reassures people and will encourage those who have been affected by this issue to come forward with information.
 
“If you’ve had a crime committed against you, or if you have information on those responsible for committing crime, ring the new non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
 
“You can also provide information via www.gloucestershire.police.uk.”