AN MP has slammed police proposals to hold peace talks with the city's gun gangs.

Former council leader Graham Stringer said plans for Belfast-style mediation between rival gangs risked giving criminals 'undeserved' status.

The Blackley MP said zero tolerance was the only way to defeat the gangs. But Mr Stringer found himself in disagreement with city centre MP Tony Lloyd and other members of the community. As reported in yesterday's M.E.N., police are talking with colleagues in Northern Ireland to learn more about the mediation techniques used to persuade warring paramilitaries to give up their arms.

Chief Supt Steve Heyward, head of CID at Greater Manchester Police, said he was exploring whether brokered talks sponsored by police and community leaders could end the cycle of revenge shootings which have plagued the city in recent weeks.

He acknowledged gang problems in Manchester were not political but said open talks could be the best way of halting tit-for-tat attacks.

Criminals

But Mr Stringer, whose area has seen five gun deaths in eight years, argued that talking to gangsters would give them the same status as community leaders. He said: "The conflict in Northern Ireland has been going on for hundreds of years and was embroiled in religion and politics. These people are just criminals and should be treated as such.

"It is giving status to villains and gangsters who should be locked up. I'm not saying it is easy to get evidence and the co-operation of people who are on the periphery of gangs but it is traditional and intensive policing and the support of the community that will change things."

GMP insisted the option of talks was one of several approaches being taken.

A spokesman said: "Mediation is only a very small part of a much wider strategy to tackle gun crime. We will continue to use all available tactics. These include tried and tested, as well as innovative, methods."

Central Manchester MP Tony Lloyd said he would back attempts to resolve street disputes through talks.

He said: "Nobody is saying there is an amnesty for murder or for walking down the street carrying a gun. It is about giving every opportunity to people to get out of that way of life and stopping them from committing serious crimes. Something like this is worth a try."

Erinma Bell, from anti-gun group Carisma, also backed the idea if it involved the `right people'. She said: "There are people who are former gang members who could mediate. We need to get to the heart of it or the violence will continue."

Mediation

A gang mediation scheme has been running in Birmingham since 2005. Supporters claim it has helped broker truces between gangs and prevent minor disputes escalating into killings.

Prof Gus John, an urban community expert from Manchester, said he was in favour of some form of mediation but it was `completely inappropriate for the police to be involved'.

He said: "It is wrong for the police to be sending out a message of acceptance to these people. They are not a paramilitary group and should not be elevated to that status."

Where the shootings took place. Click here to view our interactive map .

Find out more about this story via the links on the right of the page.

Zero tolerance or mediation? Have your say below.