EXCLUSIVE

A WEBSITE depicting youths wielding guns in Oldham streets could be closed down after an investigation by the Advertiser.

Police launched their own inquiries after we were able to reveal some of the youngsters pictured on the site claim to be students at Oldham College.

The Advertiser has also presented its dossier to the American company which hosts the site, with MPs and community leaders now calling for it to be shut down immediately.

'The Werneth Mafia' website's homepage, which has had more than 12,500 visits, contains pictures of two youths who claim to attend Oldham College and describe themselves as "Born thuggin on da mean streets of Werneth".

It contains a mocked-up car numberplate bearing the slogan 'Werneth Mafia - You Hit Me, We Hit You!' and has links to other pages with some shocking imagery.

There are photographs of people touting an array of weaponry in Lahore, Pakistan, on New Years Day 2006. These include an AK47, pump action shotguns and handguns.

And some shots linked to the site also show local youths posing with weapons in areas that appear to include Primrose Bank and Werneth.

It is not clear whether the weapons are real, but Oldham Police recently launched a crackdown on imitation weapons, warning that offenders face up to six months in prison or a big fine.

After being shown the site by the Advertiser, Oldham College Principal, Kath Thomas, launched a full investigation with police.

"The Oldham College had no knowledge of this or any other offensive website," she said.

"We do not condone any literature or web content of an offensive nature. At the college we are committed to celebrating equality and diversity. Students learn together and respect each other.

"We have not yet identified any of the persons on this website as students, however, we are working closely with the police to ensure the correct procedure is followed. Should any students be involved with this website, then the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken."

The website, which appears to glorify violence and drug use, draws inspiration from US 'gangsta' rap culture which involves a lyrical focus on the lifestyles of inner-city criminals.

And although some pages also merely contain harmless images of friends and family members, MP Phil Woolas said he was "alarmed" when shown the site's content.

"I find it to be bizarre and worrying that people act like this," he said.

"On the other hand, the major question is how much of this is just bravado and how much is more sinister.

"I have come across organised crime in Oldham before but never a street culture like this. It has an urban-ghetto feel to it which is quite alarming.

"The police should look into it as soon as possible and the site should be shut down."

Fazal Rahim, chairman at the Pukhtoon Resource Centre in Werneth, fears the website is evidence of a growing gang culture within the town.

"I can see the making of a gang culture looking at these pictures and comments," he said.

"I think it is bravado, but if it is not dealt with it could become serious. We are beginning to deal with the issues of the past and we can do without this gang culture.

"Some of the pictures also appear to be taken in shops and little workshops in an area called Bara within the tribal belt in Pakistan. Over the years they visit the tribal areas where guns are part of everyday life, but the environment these young people go from in England is very different than when they go to Pakistan and visit these shops. They like to go for a bit of bravado and showing off to their friends.

"People would be shocked by these images. These parents think their children are working away hard at their computers but in reality this is the kind of website some of them are creating. These young people are very talented but their talent is not being diverted in the right direction.

"The main thing should be that the website should be removed and some hard work needs to be done with the youth service and other agencies or a few years down the line we could find ourselves facing a serious issue."