EDMONTON hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in April when 15-year-old Negus McClean was stabbed to death in the street by a gang of youths.

Many people in the community have stepped up efforts to ensure there is no repeat of the slayings of 2008, among them Pastor Pat Agdomar who leads the Young Soldiers.

Reporter Tristan Kirk spoke to him about why he believes intervention at a young age is key to keeping teenagers out of trouble.

Pastor Pat has spent years training young people to be mentors and role models, to go into schools to help others find a path away from crime.

He believes his approach is the best way to tackle gun and knife crime, anti-social behaviour and youth disruption in Edmonton, Enfield and beyond.

Some of his Young Soldiers are as young as five years old, and are taught to spread the message of “righteousness, morality and obedience” which he believes has gone missing from society.

He said: “In a way they are being trained like a mini battalion.

“They go in and deliver, schools are looking for that and looking for a fresh idea, from a grass roots organisation like ours.

“I believe in righteousness and morality, I believe man shouldn't murder and I believe in equality. Those should be the core values anyway but that's been eroded away.”

Young Soldiers was established by Pastor Pat, who works for the Edmonton-based Glory of the Cross ministry.

When they get the calling from schools, community groups and festivals around the borough, Pastor Pat asks some of his Soldiers to help spread his message.

He says they are mainly focusing on tackling gun and knife crime at the moment, especially following the murder of 15-year-old Negus, and held a concert back in April to drive home the message.

A minister in the community for more than 30 years, Pastor Pat is visibly moved when talking of young people he has had to bury.

He talks of the “monster” society has created where “black boys are killing each other”, and adds: “If you put those kids in unemployment, you know what is going to happen and it does happen which is so sad.”

Pat passionately believes some young people going off the rails who are destined for the gangs of Edmonton and Tottenham will only listen to advice and help from their peers.

He said: “Some kids seem as though they were born made of concrete, but I thought 'what if we get kids talking to kids' and we found it was a key opening.

“They can relate, they have links and they can speak in a way that you and me can't do.”

Some who have tried to join the Young Soldiers have been turned away - “some kids are not willing to obey” says Pat – and he is determined that his group will convey the right message to those they speak to.

He said: “There has to be some form of moral structure and sense of righteousness. To some people, it may seem strict to say you need to obey your parents. But to some people it is obvious.

“If you don't obey, things don't work and then things go into chaos.”

The Young Soldiers are regulars at festivals and schools around the borough, and are flying out to Dallas next month after being invited to show off their work in the States.

Pastor Pat is a firm believer that his way is the right way to tackle youth crime, and he wants the approach to be expanded and embraced.

He said: “We need workers and young people who are willing to come and can build this up to be great and blessing to other people.”