More than 200 people attended a conference held in Catford looking at what action can be taken to solve the problem of gun and knife crime.

THE Community Call to Action conference was held to look at the problems of gangs, guns and knives on the streets.

Organised by the Lewisham Community Police Consultative Group, it was held at Lewisham Town Hall, Rushey Green, Catford, on April 12.

The event was attended by top police officers, Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock and former gang member Twilight Bey.

Other speakers included Metropolitan Police Authority chairman Len Duvall and Lewisham MPs Bridget Prentice and Jim Dowd.

A panel included Guns Amnesty expert Mike Franklin and youth leader Philip Udeh from Race Equality Action Lewisham.

Laverne Shirfield, a consultant on young people's issues, was also on the panel.

And murder victim Emmanuel Odunewu's mother Nancy spoke at the event.

Her 19-year-old son was stabbed to death in Lewisham High Street on November 28 last year.

There was also a chance for people to ask the panel questions about what could be done within the community to tackle problems with gangs, guns and knives.

Mr Franklin said: "It's time for our society to stand together.

"My biggest fear is losing a child like Nancy did.

"We have to get guns and knives off the street."

There was applause for speakers who called for those illegally selling guns and knives to be caught to stop such weapons getting into the hands of young people.

Simon Woolley, chairman of the Black Londoners Forum, said: "It's really obvious.

"Cut out the big fish and then you will have no small fry."

Ms Shirfield said: "We could use young people to go to the front line, and give them the support to do it.

"Current youth provision is missing this trick."

She added: "Secondly, professionals in the community should come together and pull our schools together to make an impact on this issue.

"It needs community investment. Kids can't turn away from violence.

"They are scared to go to school and are scared to be in school."

Ms Shirfield said: "These things are not being addressed.

"Most schools say they do not have an issue.

"Ofsted reports say they are great, but what do the children think? That's what I want to know about.

"Those teachers putting pupils down, we don't want them there."

Lambeth cabinet member for inclusion and tackling poverty Councillor Lorna Campbell attended the conference to support Lewisham's efforts to try to tackle the issue.

Afterwards she said: "It's fantastic Lewisham wants to make a change.

"We need to tap into networks, use the grass roots out there.

"We need to build a trust as it's not going to happen overnight."

She added: "The local authority should be prepared to make that move.

"In Lambeth there is a political will to want to engage more."

Lewisham's Racial Equality Action group chairman Gloria Copeland plans to get a group of people who attended the conference to work out a programme of intiatives to help deal with knife and gun crime.

The 48-year-old said: "We want to take on the powers-that-be and come up with initiatives with the faith communities, who also have a role to play."

To get involved in the group, call 020 7587 2556.