 Residents marched against gang violence in Manchester in June 2002 |
A memorial service has taken place in Manchester for relatives of people killed in gang-related violence. Hundreds of family and friends of murder victims were expected to attend from the city as well as Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool.
It follows a week of events staged by the Community Alliance for Renewal Inner-South Manchester Area (Carisma) in schools and churches to help children avoid violence.
The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, also attended the service at the city's cathedral.
Fourteen men have died as a result of gang-related violence in the past three years in the Longsight and Moss Side areas of south Manchester.
'Families still suffering'
But residents have staged a number of protests, including the Gangstop march in June 2002 which attracted 400 people.
It was organised by Michael McFarquhar who has lost three members of his family in gang shootings.
Paul Keeble from Carisma said: "We are holding the service to support those who have suffered from gang violence through losing loved ones.
"In some cases that could be many years ago, but these families still suffer today.
"We want to get the community and the city to support and stand with these families and also to draw a line and say, 'Let's commit ourselves afresh to the wellbeing of our young people.'"
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