RAPPERS involved in a Met anti-gun campaign have been attacked for singing pro-gun lyrics.
Youth worker Judah Racham said police should not have recruited East End grime stars Roll Deep for their Operation Trident campaign.
The 33-year-old who works in schools in Southwark said: "Not only do they promote a message of violence and the use of guns in their lyrics but they also have a reputation for being a crew that are associated with trouble wherever they play.
"I do not believe that using a group with this type of reputation, who are currently still involved in promoting messages of violence in their music,is a good way forward for trying to get our young people's mentality to change."
The group worked with video director Jake Nava on anti-gun track Badman.
The video, made for Operation Trident, which deals with black-on-black gun crime, got its premiere just over a week ago at Brixton's Ritzy cinema.
During the last four years there has been a steady increase in the numbers of teenagers becoming victims of gun crime.
Since January, 69 teenagers have been shot in cases investigated by Trident detectives.
A Met spokeswoman defended collaborating with Roll Deep.
She said: "The reason for working with a group like Roll Deep is that people at risk of becoming involved in gun crime don't work with traditional media and statutory groups.
"Using role models they respect enables the strong messages that Roll Deep and Trident share to be communicated in a direct manner.
News RSS