The benefits of enrichment - Guncrime

This story is from the Evening Mail

Three boys aged 13, 14 and 16 from Birmingham have been remanded in custody charged with committing a gunpoint robbery which was filmed on mobile phones.

The teenagers, from the Newtown and Hockley areas, are alleged to have robbed a 16-year-old youth who was thrown into a skip in the centre of the city earlier this month.


Magistrates sitting at Birmingham Youth Court ruled that the case against the boys should be committed to the city's Crown Court for trial.

The youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke only to confirm their names, ages and addresses during an hour-long hearing and were not required to indicate any pleas.

The youngest defendant is also charged with possessing an imitation handgun at the time of the alleged robbery in New Meeting Street, Birmingham, on October 17.

His 14-year-old co-defendant is further charged with two counts of possessing an imitation firearm at the time of his arrest on Tuesday.

Magistrates ordered all three boys to reappear at the Youth Court for committal proceedings on December 10.

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/10/29/birmingham-teenagers-in-court-over-filmed-armed-robbery-97319-25045990/

Being from the Newtown and Hockley area's of Birmingham they are overwhelmingly likely to be black. We hear alot about how the police are too harsh on this section of the community. We hear complaints about stop and search and racism within the police force. If these teenagers had been searched then it would have saved the victim an ordeal. I hope they get long sentences. ic1male

In other news Birmingham (black) gangster crews to be portrayed in new film out 4th Sept 2009.

Titled One Day – Postcode Wars, the rap-based film, which was made in Handsworth, tells the story of a day in the life of a gangster.Its director, Penny Woolcock is reported to have toured estates in Birmingham to find real-life gang members to star in the film, which was filmed over five weeks and features members of the local community performing in central roles.

But producers today insisted no active gun gang members were starring in it and a spokeswoman for Channel 4 denied it glamorised gangs.

However, the film was blasted as an obscene attempt to cash in on youth gang culture that has seen three people shot dead in Birmingham within the last 12 months and four more seriously injured in a spate of shootings.

The latest fatal city shooting which is believed to be gang related happened on Saturday when Dimitri Foskin, aged 24, was shot outside a house in Hockley Close, Newtown.

Today, Families for Peace campaigner Gleen Reid, whose 28-year-old son Corey was shot dead in Handsworth seven years ago, said: “These people are making money from the misery of families who have become victims of gun crime.

“The fact that there is a film shot about gangs in Birmingham gives out the message that you can get fame and notoriety by being a gangster. The only message they should be putting out is that being in a gang will see you dead or in prison.”
Gleen Reid

The film was kept top secret due to the sensitive nature of its content and film makers liaised with West Midlands Police in a bid to ensure the safety of their crew and cast.

Extensive research among gang members was reportedly carried out by Ms Woolcock in a bid to piece together a fictional story line based on the day to day lives of people living in areas affected by gun crime.

She could not be contacted for comment, but is reported to have toured estates in Birmingham to find real-life gang members.

Billed as a rap-based musical, the film has been given a provisional 15 certificate and is funded by Channel 4, Blast Films, Screen WM and Vertigo.

The term “postcode wars” refers to some districts being territorial no-go areas for feuding, gang members.

Producers are remaining tight lipped over the details of the film while tapes are edited. It will hit TV screens next year.

The Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “The film does not glamorise or condone gang culture, but aims to go behind the headlines and explore the lives of young men in the inner city in a humane and three dimensional way.”

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “West Midlands Police routinely liaises with film and programme makers on both factual and fictional projects.

“Representatives from production companies regularly approach the force for assistance, advice or simply to advise us that filming is taking place.
“The force may not agree or support the aims or content of any given project but we have no powers to stop filming.

The force also has no say on who is employed in such projects.”

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/08/28/fury-over-channel-4-gun-gang-film-97319-21625074/



Thank you to the Afro Caribbean community for making large sections of Birmingham a crime ridden, violent, and intimidating place to live, work and travel. ic1male