Gun violence conference at the Imperial War Museum

The initiative, involving young people from all the borough's secondary schools and pupil referral units, youth projects, school governors, teachers, youth workers, and police has been introduced as a result of concern at the rise in gun violence across the borough.

The day feature a talk by Lucy Cope, a mother and member of the group Mums against Guns, who tragically lost her son to gun violence and a number of hard-hitting presentations from Operation Trident, the MPS Firearms Branch and Southwark Youth Offending Team 'Gang Workers'.

Objectives included raising awareness of the dangers associated with gun crime and supporting local youth in exploring how to say 'no' to guns and where they can go for tangible and constructive support and advice.

Southwark Police Superintendent Ed Bateman said: ?We must mobilise young people across Southwark and encourage them to face up to the dangers and sadness that guns bring to them personally and to the community. It is their community and they have the opportunity to make a difference.?

• Southwark Police