Safe housing for young people fleeing gang violence

Southwark council's initiative Serve (Southwark Rehousing Victims of Violence Enterprise) will provide properties across London and the south east of England through an agreement between the council and a number of registered social landlords.

The Department for Communities and Local Government and the Metropolitan police will jointly fund the scheme. Communities and local government secretary Hazel Blears said she would want to see the model rolled out to other problem areas in England if it is successful.

Serve will allow people who are in danger to move into a safe property in a different area for up to 12 weeks. During their stay the council and its partners will help them plan their next steps and secure long-term housing.

Paul Kyriacou, Southwark's executive member for community safety, said: "Our housing department is seeing an increasing number of young people, their friends and families who are afraid for their lives because of gang violence and we needed to develop a solution that could get people away to safety straight away.

"Many people do not qualify for witness protection services and when they do a move is often not possible for several weeks."

People using the scheme will be those at risk of violence or retribution from a gang, a young person trying to resist the efforts of gang members to recruit them and witnesses who need a safe place to move to enable them to testify in court.