Camden police increase youth centre support after shooting

The youth worker was shot in the leg when he tried to intervene in a row outside the Queen's Crescent Community Centre, Gospel Oak, in Camden last week (18 January).

A 16-year-old boy was also injured after the bullet grazed his head. Both have been released from hospital.

In its briefing report following the incident Camden Police have pledged to step up police patrols in the area and work with local youth workers "to offer support and assess any risks".

The youth worker who had been shot had given an interview to the Camden New Journal following the incident criticising a lack of police presence in the area.

Since the incident a meeting attended by around 60 residents, police and Camden council representatives took place to discuss crime in the area.

Chris Fagg, chair of the Gospel Oak safer neighbourhood panel said: "It was a very positive meeting. What came out loud and clear is that there is faith in the police. It is nonsense to suggest that police are not present or supporting youth activities."

He added that Camden Police had been involved with an urban art project locally.

A spokeswoman from Camden Council said that the council is spending £50,000 on community safety improvements in the Gospel Oak area, which has been the scene of three shootings in the past year.

No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, which is being investigated by officers from Operation Trident, the Metropolitan Police's anti-gun crime initiative.

Superintendent Raj Kohli, head of Community and Partnership policing, said: "Incidents such as these are rare in Camden but we will always take them extremely seriously. Thankfully, the victims' injuries were relatively minor and both are expected to make a full recovery."

"Additional police patrols can be expected in the area and I would like to reassure the community that we are working with our Trident colleagues and feel confident that those responsible will be quickly apprehended."