Is it all too easy for politicians and the media to blame gangsta rappers for the fact that young people carry guns and knives? Could it be that the alienated youths that do so have been far more influenced by other factors such as poor education or family breakdown? Taking the Rap?

Violent crime including gang welfare and the use of firearms affects many urban communities, with a growing number of alarming incidents reported in the media. Churches often struggle to find appropriate ways to respond to these crises and the pastoral needs that arise from them. God and the Gangs

Is it possible to have holy hip hop? According to G Craige Lewis of The Truth Behind Hip Hop the answer is no. He claims that hip-hop is not music, but a religion. However, many take a different view, believing that the church can use rap music to reach out to young people. Holy Hip Hop

A report for the Mayor of London highlighted the fact that it has been clear for some years that Britain’s education system is failing to give black boys the start in life which they, and their parents, are entitled to expect. How Schools Fail Black Boys

London's Metropolitan Police is adopting an innovative new tactic in its war against the scourge of knife crime which is ruining the lives of many young people throughout the capital. Scotland Yard has produced a video game simulation that brings home the realities of knife crime. Carrying a Knife: It's Not a Game

One in five secondary school kids say they've tried drugs at least once in the past 12 months, according to figures from a survey on drug use, drinking and smoking in young people published by the UK's Information Centre for Health and Social Care. Kids and Drugs

For young people who want to listen to grime and UK garage their main source is pirate radio. For many, the pirate stations are a breeding ground for new talent waiting to break into the mainstream. The authorities take a different view; they say that pirate radio is a public nuisance linked to crime. Pirate Radio: Raising Talent or Funding Crime?