Each night on MKFM, we are being joined by key decision makers and holding them to account in an exclusive week of interviews.
Following recent crime trends, MKFM is hosting an exclusive week of crime interviews where we put your questions to key decision makers.
Last night (5/4), we put your questions to Cllr Pete Marland.
Cllr Peter Marland is the Labour and Coop Leader of MK Council and Councillor for the Wolverton Ward.
This week of crime interviews on MKFM has received a mixed response when it comes down to gang culture.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley told MKFM that for a town the size of MK, we score low for recognised gangs. Ben Everitt MP, agreed with Matthew's view that gang numbers for a town of MK's size were low, but did state that he 'wouldn’t deny there are gangs'.
On Wednesday night, MKFM posed the question to Cllr Peter Marland asking his thoughts on if there is a gang culture in Milton Keynes.
"County lines gangs are a problem in Milton Keynes," Pete said: "It's a problem because of where we are situated in the country."
He said that whether its a matter of gangs operating outside of Milton Keynes or inside Milton Keynes is a matter of conjecture.
Pete told MKFM "I don't think its a matter of conjecture that there is gang activity in Milton Keynes and that is extensively linked to the drugs trade," He continued: "Not to put too fine a point on it, the drugs trade thrives in Milton Keynes because we are an affluent place and affluent places, the drug culture is different today than it was 25 years ago."
He added: "These says, it's about the habitual use of cocaine weekend in, weekend out."
Cllr Peter Marland added that this type of drug culture mainly plays out in affluent places.
"The supply doesn't come from Milton Keynes, but all the briefings that I have had, is that Milton Keynes is obviously very very profitable if you sell drugs," he said: " And it would pickle my brain if there wasn't very nasty people operating to sell those drugs in Milton Keynes."
Pete said that he could "imagine the human misery" that goes into preparing the drugs and dropping it onto somebody's doorstep.
"I imagine the human misery is pretty high."
When asked if he thinks gang culture revolves more around drugs than areas and schools, Pete responded: "I think people get confused about gang culture, so I think when I talk about gangs and when Matthew [Barber] talks about gangs, we are talking about organised activity."
He said: "Do we have a problem with groups of teenagers who group together and say I am from Bletchley, and this group is from Westcroft, or wherever it may be across Milton Keynes, do we have a problem that those young people are being rude to eachother on social media? Whether they're in a gang or not, and whether they wear colours is pretty irrelevant to the outcomes."
Listen back to Cllr Peter Marlands interview below:
There has been some changes to our news special schedule. Here is the updated list:
Monday 4th April 7PM - Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police
Tuesday 5th April 7PM - Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North
Wednesday 6th April 7PM - Cllr Peter Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes Council
Thursday 7th April 7PM - Chief Inspector Livingstone, Deputy Commander for MK
Sunday 10th April 7PM - Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South
Monday 11th April 7PM - Cllr Robin Bradburn, Leader of MK Lib Dem Group and member of Thames Valley Police and Crime panel
Listen back to Matthew Barber's interview with MKFM here:
Listen back to Ben Everitt's interview here:
