A youth worker has teamed up with a local talent agency to produce a music video urging young people to stay in and stop sharing drugs.

The project has been put together by Gravesend music collective GTown Talents and aims to highlight the dangers of breaking social distancing rules.

It follows various reports of young people seen loitering in parks and sharing and taking drugs, including in Dartford and the Medway Towns.

Jimmy Babalola leads the project with business partner Jordan Chawner, who shot the video in just one day with creative director VybeRoom while observing a two metre distance.

With the country in lockdown the scout said its more important than ever to give young people an outlet through music.

But he warns there is another group of youths who are getting swept up in the culture of drugs and gangs

Jimmy said: "It is part of the project as well, people are smoking cigarettes and spliffs in the park and don't see the dangers."

This he says is something they wanted to address in their music video rather than just calling out the behaviour.

One artist is heard urging teens to avoid "swinging their zoot", which is slang for sharing cannabis.

Another adds: "Don't share your spliffs, don't share your straws, don't share your drinks –it's a lockdown pause."

Rappers also sing lyrics advising young people to wash their hands, avoid stockpiling food items and respecting personal space.

Ideas for the video came about after Jimmy was approached by youth worker Lennox Rodgers.

The former gang member, who now runs Dartford-based crime prevention charity Refocus, says there are many reasons why young people are not staying in and heeding government advice.

Boredom, lack of education and dysfunctional family homes were just some of the problems he identified.

"It is a mix bag of issues," he said. "What we are seeing is young people struggling to occupy themselves.

"A lot of young people have issues with violent family members."

Speaking directly to some teenagers at Dartford's central park he said it was clear some were victims of abuse.

But the support worker hastened to add by far the biggest problem was drugs.

"We've got kids grooming other kids, especially here in Kent," he said.

He was told gangs were now putting their prices up which meant cash strapped teens are now grouping together to share drugs.

He adds: "They don't know that they could be carriers [of the virus].

"There is no consideration these drugs have been up a person's backside before it has even come to them."

The project leader said many parents were unaware as their kids lie to them about where they are going and who with.

He has been talking to affected youths at a safe distance and says many kids relate to his "shared experience".

"I have been through the prison system for 21 years, I have been in two gangs and I have a background of domestic violence and abuse so I have a lot to share".

The former gang member has been working with the police to approach young people but is calling on more flexibility.

In the Medway Towns certain parks and childen's play area have been closed by the council.

However, police were called out to Jacksons Field in Rochester and Cozenton skate park in Rainham following numerous reports of people flouting social distancing guidelines.

Mr Rodgers does not believe shutting down parks and open spaces is the answer.

"We are trying to colloborate with the police to get to some of the hot spots," he said. "but closing parks does not stop them using them."

He explained there needed to be something put in place to address the boredom and other issues.

The youth worker added working with the NHS to show them "strong case studies" of the impact they could have might be another route.

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