Gang members in London are being offered the chance to change their life under a church scheme aimed at reducing knife crime in the British capital.
Under the initiative, which is run by the Spac Nation Church, a series of ‘safe houses’ have reportedly been established where those wanting to leave the gangs can live and be supported as they look to get into education and employment.
More than 60 people have reportedly died in stabbings in London during this year alone.
Spac senior pastor Tobi Adegboyega, who leads the project, told Sky News that there are 15-year-olds dying on London’s streets “and this should not be happening”.
“It’s one of the reasons why we started this initiative. We have 23 self-funded safe houses across London.”
The church says more than 100 people have so far been housed in the church’s safe houses. Those who are aged under 18 must receive permission from their local council to live in the houses.
One resident, Iges, is a former drug dealer who started selling drugs at age 13. He told Sky that he now prays “for every young person to come out of the drugs game” and said being in a safe house is a “dream come true”.
“If I wasn’t here, it would either be jail or it would either be death.”
