Newham’s new borough commander has pledged to tackle gang culture.

Chief Supt Tony Nash, who took on his new role this week said: “Gang members have two options - to stop it and get away from that life or we will come and hunt people down because they cause disruption to law-abiding members of the community.

“It is about offering the pathway out and giving people the option to get out of criminal gang behaviour and protecting the public.”

Chief Supt Nash, who has several years experience working on the Metropolitan Police’s gang unit, Trident, also wants to improve the community’s confidence in the police force.

“That has got to involve us going out into the community and showing understanding of that community,” he said. “We need to learn how to work with them to obtain and retain their respect.”

Chief Supt Nash’s other initiatives include reducing violence linked to alcohol and street-based violence and encouraging domestic abuse victims to report crimes and offering them pathways out.

Chief Supt Nash, who first joined the police force in 1986, has been promoted to his new role from Hackney’s temporary chief superintendant and has previously worked in South East London, East London and North London.

His career highlights to date include helping to convict rapist and murderer Robert Napper and says his new role is a dream appointment.

“It is one of those boroughs that everyone wants to come and work in,” Chief Supt Nash said. “Newham is busy, it’s vibrant and it is a rapidly changing borough which offers lots of challenges, probably more so than many other areas.

“If you look at how it has changed since the Olympics and is continuing to change that offers substantial opportunity. What I want to do is come to work and to be able to make a difference to people in this borough.”

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