Drugs Threat To Somali Youths

About 20,000 Somalis live in Bristol - making them the second largest non-white group in the city, behind Afro-Caribbeans. Community leaders are concerned about the rising numbers of young people involved in drugs. SIMON PEEVERS reports.

Bristol, UK, September 21, 2006 – Drugs and the crime and misery they can bring are a problem faced by every section of society. But Somalis say that they are less equipped to deal with them because of a lack of facilities and they are calling on the city council to do more.

Community worker Khalil Abdi said he believed that there needed to be a focal point to bring people together, a building like the Malcolm X Centre which was established by the long-standing Afro-Caribbean population of Bristol.

Khalil said young Somalis were getting involved with drugs because they lacked direction. He said that with fewer job opportunities, they were tempted to join the world of drug dealing by the lure of easy money.

But what they do not have, he said, was the guidance to teach them that drug dealing would almost certainly lead to trouble with the police and law, family and friends, and perhaps to their being responsible for the death of somebody who overdosed on drugs they sold.

Police said they have been working closely with the Somali community for a number of years, in order to foster good relations which can lead to cooperation and better communication.

They said that community leaders were well aware of the problems created by the Somali drug dealers who operate in the Easton, Barton Hill and St Paul's area, and were working to try and drive them out.

And Easton councilor Abdul Malik said that there was now a real opportunity for Somalis and other Muslims in the city to show they were making positive steps.

Mr. Malik is working on a proposal for a new community centre which he hopes will provide the kind of support that people feel is needed to divert young people away from drugs.

Khalil said: "Things would improve if the city council could support the community more.

"The Afro-Caribbeans have had the Malcolm X Centre for many years and something like that for the Somali community would give young people somewhere to go.

"It is important because they need somebody to teach them about their culture which does not encourage the drugs and crime they are involved in.

"Somewhere to act as a focal point where young and old can come together would provide the type environment where young people could get the guidance they need as well.

"There are sports centers which do provide good facilities but there are young people who say they cannot afford to use them.

"Our young people are going to college but they are not finding work when they finish, it is a real problem for this area.

"If they are not working, they are hanging around the area and meeting the drug dealers who show them how they can easily make some money.

"If they have been applying for jobs and have been turned down many times, then there are some people who decide that the easier option to get money is to start dealing drugs.

"We are of course aware that there are Somalis involved in drug dealing in the city and we have been working hard with the police to help them arrest those who are responsible.

"We want to put over the message that we are doing what we can to deal with it but we also need the support of the city council.

"It feels that we are the only ethnic minority group without any support from the city council in Bristol."

Nimo Hussein works with young Somali women who are affected by drugs in the city, and she said she was worried about the number of girls caught up in the trade.

She said the youngsters were drawn into the criminal underworld by older men who lavish them with gifts and attention, and offer them a way to earn easy money.

She said: "There are girls who are aged 14 and 15 and who are involved in the drugs trade.

"I have been into schools in Bristol and have spoken to them and they say that when they finish school for the day they go and deal drugs.

"There are a lot of girls dealing drugs and not just Somali girls, but it is bad for the whole community.

"They are used by the drug dealers as well to take drugs around the city because the police will not suspect them of being dealers so they do not get stopped and searched."

There is concern that the actions of a minority of Somalis are giving the whole group a bad name.

Kayse Maxamed, the editor of the Somali Voice community newspaper, said that his fellow countrymen brought many benefits to the city and did not want to jeopardize the good relations with the rest of Bristol that Somalis have worked hard to foster.

He said: "Somali businesses have helped to bring regeneration to areas of Bristol which were run down before.

"There are Somali children in the schools who want to study hard and go on to become doctors, teachers and help society in other ways.

"We know there are some people within our community who are dealing drugs, and we are worried about that. It is a concern to us all because we do not want the rest of Bristol to hear these stories and think all Somalis are to blame, because it is not true.

"As Somalis we are keen to emphasize that we believe in integrating into Bristol life and that those people who are dealing drugs are not representative.

"But we also need support and help from the city council."

Liberal Democrat councilor Abdul Malik, who represents Easton, agreed that the answer to some of the problems facing the Somali community and other Muslims in Bristol would be better facilities.

He is working with various groups to create a proposal to put to the city council for a new facility to be established in Easton, the area of the city with the highest numbers of Muslims and Somalis.

He is also appealing for people to come forward with ideas.

He said: "With the demise of the Easton Community Centre, there is very little for black and minority ethnic groups which can be used as a community centre.

"I am putting together a proposal and want to hear from people in the city about what they want.

"It is true that there are fewer facilities for Muslims and black minority ethnic groups than other groups, so we should not let this opportunity slip to establish something positive.

"It is a great chance for people to come together and create a facility which will break down old stereotypes about Muslims and show the rest of Bristol the truth behind a lot of the rubbish that is spoken about these groups.

"Muslims and Somalis have not been included in the discussions about the Easton Community Centre and so will feel excluded.

"That is why it is important to include all groups in discussions about a new facility."

Mr. Malik said that the Somali community now had to face up to the issue of drug abuse and dealers.

He said: "Drugs are becoming a problem in the Somali community and it has to be confronted.

"I believe that if there is a proper facility within the community, you can have programmes and outreach workers based there who can work with those people who are involved.

"The Somali population is fairly new in Bristol and Britain, and they are beginning to experience all the same problems that effect the rest of society.

"Of course it is a problem for everyone and Somalis are finding that out now.

"I remember 10 years ago that it was big news if the police made a drugs raid. But they are happening everyday now and are not even commented on, which is a reflection of the wider issue.

"I think the key is to have joint initiatives.

"It is not enough to just say, 'let the Somalis deal with their own problems'. There has to be an integrated solution."

If you would like to contribute to Mr. Malik's proposal for a new community centre in Easton, call him on 914 2560.

Source: This is Bristol in association with the Evening Standard

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