Two horrifying murders on the streets of Canning Town in the last weeks have reignited fears that despite evidence of a fall in violent crime figures, parts of Newham where gangs operate remain high risk areas for young men.

One man aiming to reduce the risks is Raheel Butt, aged 36, a street-wise campaigner who in 2020 opened up a gym in Plaistow to provide a refuge for school-age youngsters under pressure to join gangs or to take drugs.

He warns that recent declines in street violence may be temporary. “There is a narrative that less violence is happening,” he says, “but the reality is different. I’m sure that levels of violence will rise sharply in the period after the pandemic.”

His fears were reinforced by the killing of Fares Maatou, aged 14, and 18-year-old Abubakkar (Junior) Jah, within three days of each other in Canning Town at the end of April.

Raheel has deep insider knowledge of this crisis. As a pre-teen child in Newham coming from a home with a violent father and a mother struggling to provide for her family, he knows only too well the dangers that youngsters face.

As a young boy he went off the rails, found himself caught up with gangs, and was sent to prison in his 20s for violent crime.

In 2013 he made his break with the past and decided to focus on charitable work and to confront personal challenges he faced on leaving prison. Raheel invested in converting a garage in Plaistow close to nearby Lister School into a gym for young people and sold his house to pay for it.

Now he describes himself as “a pracademic,” combining an academic life – he’s doing a master’s degree in criminology at Middlesex University – with a passionate desire to help young people.

One 14-year-old at the gym told Newham Voices: “I used to weigh 120 kilos and because I’m so big I was always being asked to join gangs. I’ve been asked to do drugs,” he said. “I know that if you’re by yourself on the streets you can become a target.

“The gym has become my retreat. It’s my place of refuge. I definitely feel more comfortable here than being in school.”

Another young man, also 14, who has dreams of becoming a teenage entrepreneur, agreed: “This place really helps. I want to also help people if I can.” He is already working on plans to become an investment trader and is “making a little bit of profit”.

Raheel believes his gym can make a difference, but he is frustrated by a perceived lack of support from the local community. “We expect local politicians to be queuing up outside our door to help,” he says, “but they’re nowhere to be seen, why is that?”

His frustration is further reinforced by the unpleasant news of a £1000 fine for breaching Covid restrictions, even though he says he has created a socially-distanced and safe environment and is not opening the gym to general use.

But undaunted, his gym will be re-opened in June. “I’m prepared to work with community groups and the council to give our young people the support they need, but we need also to see a willingness from council services to work with us,” he said. “I hope it will come soon.”

Compound Gym, Eastern Road, Plaistow. Tel.: 0745 49 12345

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