A special meeting will be held in Hackney Town Hall in East London tonight, Wednesday March 29th, to launch an innovative partnership initiative to combat gun violence, gangs and drug culture in the borough.

|TOP|Police in the borough are currently working with churches across London to launch a summer programme with members of TRUCE, which is a multi-racial team of young Americans, made up of former gang members, drug-dealers and thugs, who have all turned to Christianity and become committed believers.

TRUCE has the aim to share in detail the success experienced in getting young people in New York’s most notorious areas, such as The Bronx, to give up their weapons and drugs, and to live a more positive lifestyle.

Church leaders from numerous denominations will gather with youth leaders, council officials and teachers, to join the police and other groups to be present at the launch.

Eighteen estates in Hackney will be visited during July by the TRUCE team, who will perform their dance, singing and rapping skills, as well as provide youth with motivational talks, visit schools and have one-to-one sessions with certain youth at risk.

It hoped that the TRUCE team can bring an aura of hope, respect and self-worth to the young people in the borough.

The project will conclude with a major meeting led by world famous evangelist and author Nicky Cruz at Oceans.

|AD|TRUCE has been firmly supported by the Metropolitan Police force. Officer Leroy Logan, serves as the Superintendent of the London Borough of Hackney commented, “The Metropolitan Police are working closely with TRUCE in targeting outreach on the estates of Hackney. We believe that to successfully reduce crime, we need to work closely with the various community stakeholders, and organisations that we feel can make a positive difference.”

Among the other organisations supporting the project is also Street Pastors. Rev Joyce Daley, leader of the Street Pastors team in Hackney said, “With such an assertive effort by key establishments such as the police, the education department, the church and social services working together along side the TRUCE team, drawing from their experience and level of success working amongst gang members, drug dealers and youth in general, Hackney Borough will have hope for a brighter future.”

Peter Jordan, the TRUCE project co-ordinator testified, “I worked with TRUCE in 2005 and they have a unique way of capturing the hearts of young people. Their message of hope and self worth is infectious and will make a difference in the community. They are a catalyst for change in the lives of young people caught in a gang culture. I believe this is a very exciting project that will promote partnership and hope”.

It is hoped the TRUCE project will prove a great success in 2006, so that coming years will see the project repeated in Hackney and across many other boroughs in London.