MY CRAZY MEDIA LIFE
PROGRAMME 3: NOT ONE OF THE GANG
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
00:00 – 01:18
We hear about gang shootings and the death of teenagers in South London. Dexter has just come out of prison for street robbery and has been asked to contribute his knowledge and skills to a charity called X-it.
01:19 – 03:15
Dexter shows us around his home area of Brixton in south-west London. He did not live with his parents and started offending at the age of 11. He soon developed a really bad reputation, committing up to 10 robberies a day. We hear more about him from Julia, the youth worker in the area, and Toby, the police officer who used to stop him as often as six times a day. Dexter is now tagged and under curfew.
03:16 – 06:51
We see MZ (Murder Zone) tags graffitied on walls. The taggers want to be linked to a coherent group with its own identity. It replaces family for them. The X-it scheme aims to replace the family (or lack of it). We learn that Dexter will work as a mentor. Julia urgently needs him to work with a group of 10- to 14-year-olds who are the youngest-ever gang members.
06:52 – 07:57
Everyone in the group has turned up to the first X-it session. It's the start of a 10-week programme that will show ways to prevent being part of the gang culture. The young people will be given as much support as possible.
07:58 – 10:45
Dexter spends all his time up to his 10pm curfew helping the young people. There is one in particular, Charlie, who he aims to get back into school. Many young people are excluded from school and have no structure to their day. They are bored so they look for trouble. Charlie's mother is interviewed and is aware she may have to go to court. Dexter gets on well with Charlie as they have a lot in common.
10:46 – 13:10
We observe an X-it session with youth worker, Delroy. A father was murdered recently on the street. His son, Jason, is now determined to keep out of crime.
13:11 – 14:18
We learn that Dexter's existence is a struggle. He has to think positively. He lives in temporary accommodation outside Brixton to avoid temptation.
14:19 – 16:07
Julia reminds the young people of their goals. All 10 are still attending the sessions. They get the chance to get out of London and go on a dry ski slope, but a fight ensues and the trip comes to an abrupt end.
16:08 – 18:06
Back in Brixton, a door has been smashed down and a robbery committed. Charlie's brother Robert has been blamed.
18:07 – 19:42
Two miles away there has been another tragic shooting in the Streatham ice rink. Dexter knew the young man who has been killed. He talks about the media portrayal of 'gang' activity and he wants to change the stereotyping of young black kids as thugs. The X-it work is seen as crucial in this.
19:43 – 21:54
Dexter goes to take Charlie to school but he refuses. Dexter sticks with him for one and a half hours, persuading him. His mother faces a prison sentence because of Charlie's non-attendance.
21:55 – 23:43
Dexter gives his views on raising children. His work for X-it has been life-changing, both for him and for the young people. Charlie is back at school, and Dexter now hopes to pursue a career as a youth worker. We learn that X-it is the only project of its kind in the country.
