POLICE have admitted the borough has "a real problem" with gangs of young people arming themselves and beating and robbing people.

Operations chief Superintendent Martin Bagg has denied allegations the police are "in denial" about the existence of gangs such as T Block in Thamesmead, the RA in Erith and Northumberland Heath and Sidcup Boys in Sidcup.

Parents have contacted News Shopper terrified their children will be either sucked into the growing gang culture or become victims.

They have accused police of doing nothing to stop escalating violence.

One parent, who says his children were terrified of T Block, said: "This gang will go where they want and do what they want."

He wants to start a campaign to name and shame the culprits and drive them out of Thamesmead.

He added: "We need to take a stand and stop this. People are being brutally attacked."

Another parent fears his son might join the predominantly white RA gang to protect himself from attacks by the largely black T Block.

A mother said she was battling with her teenage son to prevent him arming himself with a knife for protection against escalating gang attacks and muggings.

Supt Bagg said: "I acknowledge we have got a problem and resolving it is going to be a long haul."

He says many youngsters involved in the gangs are only on the fringes and the violence and muggings are confined to a small hard core.

He said: "We need the intelligence. We haven't got enough officers to be everywhere all at the same time."

Head of crime and intelligence Detective Superintendent Darrell Shephard added: "Our message is we will put the fear of God into these people. We are going to get you."



SEARCHING SOLUTION

BEXLEY police and British Transport Police, armed with a metal scanner to detect weapons, and drug dogs, carried out a stop-and-search operation at Abbey Wood station a hot spot for muggings and a gateway to the borough.

They spent several hours and stopped up to 40 people. Three arrests were made, one for possession of a knife.

Operations chief Superintendent Bagg said the police were in discussions with other agencies about other measures which could be taken to stop teen violence on buses and prevent pupils taking knives into school.

He said of the 101 street robberies carried out across the 21 wards in Bexley borough between January and April, 14 were committed in just one ward Thamesmead East by black males.

If your family has suffered gang violence or you want to join a campaign to fight back, call News Shopper on 01689 885723.