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That’s no coincidence – the project was
inspired by Los Angeles company Homeboy
Industries, which works to make streets safer
by offering support and training to people
with previous gang involvement. ‘We know
through experience that these people who
come from chaotic backgrounds lack hope
and lack opportunity,’ Inspector Murray says.
The demand is huge, he adds, and there’s no
shortage of people who want the chance to
turn their lives around.
BHI won’t accept anyone who is mandated
to be there, believing that the will has to be
there before there’ll be a way. Referrals come
from several directions – from third sector
organisations and Jobcentre Plus to The
Wise Group and the Celtic FC Foundation,
as well as through outreach work done in
prisons by Inspector Murray.
Team members are employed on 12-month
contracts for 35 hour weeks and paid the
living wage. The job is only part of the
package, though – they also have access
to counselling, therapists and round-theclock
support from mentors (known within
the company as Navigators) who have lived
experience of struggling with addiction and
criminal behaviour.
They’re also offered basic education
skills and qualifications like SVQs, first
aid certificates and barista training. Even
parenting guidance is available – the majority
of those currently employed have children
of their own. BHI is all too aware that their
employees may have fallen victim to a multigenerational
cycle and require redirection
in parts of life many of us might take for
granted.
Inspector Murray reflects on the recruitment
process and says, ‘It wasn’t low lying fruit, we
don’t choose the easiest people to get back
into work. It’s those who are furthest from
getting a job, those who people would turn
their nose up at and say, “oh, too risky”.’
The initiative is one of – if not the – first of
its kind in the world to be operated by a
police body. The programme appears to be
founded on the kind of pragmatic idealism
which Scots sometimes have a tendency to
shy away from, which proves one of several
valuable lessons learned from the company’s
American partners. ‘You start to believe in
them and they start to believe in themselves.
There won’t be a more loyal person out
there.’
Callum (26) joined Street & Arrow in February.
He was involved with ‘a lot of violence and
crime’ and nearly lost his life in January
before deciding he was going to make a
change. ‘I’m coming up for a year sober, I’ve
got custody of son, my wee girl’s in my life
and I’m a partner to my girlfriend,’ Callum
says, crediting the support and guidance
of the BHI team. ‘This is the best thing that
ever happened to me.’ He mentions that he
lacked positive role models growing up and
chuckles. ‘For me to get that from a police
officer… That’s surreal after the life I used
to lead.’
There’s a strong focus on encouraging the
team to be honest and vulnerable with their
mentors, leaders and each other – many of
the people with convictions carry trauma that
manifested as destructive behaviour. “It’s not
an excuse, it’s just been normalised chaotic
behaviour. We want to take them away from
that and equip them with the practical and
emotional skills they need to be resilient.”
Inspector Murray hopes that their work is
the beginning of a viable alternative to the
cycle of offence and incarceration, reducing
the number of victims and benefiting
communities in the long term. He points out
that for every person involved in programmes
like theirs rather than in custody, between
£34-40,000 of public money is saved.
There are three criteria BHI employees must
meet to count as a programme success
story: staying in full time work, refraining from
reoffending, and complete abstinence from
substances. Street & Arrow’s current success
rate is 100%.
The truck opens Monday-Friday as well as
every second Saturday when the farmers’
market runs. Inspector Murray hopes they
can open a second location closer to the
city centre soon and in the meantime, that
the community joins them in giving second
chances.
actiononviolence.org.uk/projects/
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