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Evening Seminar
County Lines – the inside story
Nequela Whittaker
Gangs Specialist, Author and Founding Director
Committed Empowered Originals Youth Services (CEO)
16 July, 2019@academyjustice
Academy for Social Justice
Academy Overview
• The Academy for Social Justice is a networked community of
people focussed on inspiring change to improve public services,
civil society and help people thrive
• The Academy was created in 2007 and now has over 4500 cross
sector members
• The Academy hosts free nationwide events offering learning and
networking opportunities and social justice themed learning
groups
CONTENT
• Introduction- South London
• My Background
• O.T- Outta Town
• County Lines
• Finding My Purpose
• Where I’m At Now
• Questions and Answers
• Social Media Details
SOUTH LONDON
• Born in July 1988, Brixton South West London. Myatts Field Estate
youngest of 3 siblings
• My dad been a substance misuser since the 80’s(crack smoker)
• In 1993, We moved to Clapham Common
• I was a high achiever during reception & primary school
• 1998/99, I attended Italia Conti Drama School
• 1999, Started secondary school St Mary’s High School West Croydon
• 1999, At 11 years old I was sexual assaulted (raped) by a peer
• 2000, 12 Started getting involved in steeling, joy-riding, selling weed
• 2001/02, 13-14 years old started selling crack as a small business
• 2002/03, 14-15 years old started selling heroin and going OT
MY BACKGROUND
O.T- OUTTA TOWN
THE PROCESS
Previously known as O.T (outta town) this would be an
arranged trip between the distributor and worker
depending on the workers commitments and how much
money they wanted to make they could be gone from 1
week to 1 month.
COUNTY LINE
How to Spot Possible Victims
There are several signs to look out for when
someone has been lured into this activity,
these include:
• Change in behaviour
• Signs of assault and/or malnutrition
• Access to numerous phones
• Use of unusual terms e.g. going
country
• Associating with gangs
• Unexplained bus or train tickets
• School truancy or going missing
• Unexplained gifts (clothes, trainers)
and cash
FINDING MY PURPOSENEQUELA WHITTAKER
WHERE I’M AT NOW
RADIO
BEAT FM- Brent Council Show- Nequela
BBC Radio- Dotton Adebo- Nequela Panel
BBC Drive Time- Nequela Youth Issues
BBC Radio4- Nequela Youthwork Segment
BBC Radio5- Live Interview 2018
BBC World Service- Marinara- April 2018
BBC Scotland- Kaye Adams -April 2018
BBC Radio 5 Live- Nick 05/04/2018
LBC- Andrew Castle Show 07/04/2018
BBC Radio5 Live- Knife crime 08/04/2018
BBC NPR- Life after Prison Show 16/05/2018
BBC Radio 4- Women’s Hour Resilience 1/1/2019
TV
London Live- Reya- Street Girl April 2016
London Live- 6pm Youth Issue/Street Girl
London Live- 6pm Live Discussion 2017
CHANNEL 5- Inside the Gang
BBC 2- Victoria Derbyshire Show-
BBC/ITV- Labour Advert/Cuts
BEN.TV- The Women Show Youth Violence
ITV 6pm News- Youth Violence 03/04/18
BBC1 News- 6:30pm 03/04/18
BBC Breakfast- 8:10am 05/05/18
GMB- Breakfast TV- 06/04/2018
PRESENTATIONS/ TALKS
International women’s Day 2016 Newport
Southwark YOS Girls Session 2017
Goldsmiths Networking Event 2017
Trees shepherd Business Course Grad
Inspiring Butterflies Event 2016
Night With the Authors 2016
Be inspired Event 2017
Knife Crime Demo Hackney 2017
Merton CSE Awareness Week 2017
Speak Your Mind Knife Crime 2018
Parent Postcode Talk 2018
BOOKS/ MAGAZINE/ NEWSPAPER
Street Girl Book - 2016
University Entrepreneurs - 2016
Diva- LGBT Magazine 2pages-June 2016
South London Press- 2pages-May 2016
South London Press- 2pages-May 2016
Daily Record- 2 pages- March 2018
ONLINE
Street Girl Knife Crime Demo- UnderWorld TV
Nequela Whittaker- Decades Az-Mag 2017
BBC Article- Not Just Boys Are In Gangs 2018
BBC Article- Resilience 01/01/2019
WORKSHOPS
Street Girl- Merton Council (MOPAC) 2016
Francis Barber Pru- Knife Crime 16/05/2018
Postcode Parents- Pressure 06/06/2018
Knife Crime Speak Your Mind 22/09/2018
Addey and Stanhope School- Amount to
More 15/03/2019
1.
Process – Understand
Prevent – Do
Purpose - Hope
TAKE AWAYS
THANK YOU…Q’s & A’s
• Twitter: _Street_Girl_16
• Facebook: Nequela Whittaker
• Instagram: Street girl 17/ ceoyouthservice
• Enquiries: [email protected]
ceoyouthservice.wixsite.com/ceo-youth-service
