It was time to 'stop the killing and start the healing,' the Black Police Association says.

Concerned community leaders have come together to form an action plan to tackle black on black gun and drug crime, which they say is at crisis point.

Chief Inspector Leroy Logan said the community have a collective power, which they must muster in partnerships with police to reduce drug and gun crime.

"Because we are part of the black community. We feel the pain and experience the anguish of black killings. We can't rely on the government alone."

The situation was at crisis point, with more young black men in jail than in college, he said.

Last year 179 black men were shot in gangster style crimes, of which 18 died, he said.

"These hooligans with guns must be shown up for who they are," CI Logan said.

Often young men were drawn into the gangster lifestyle by the "ghetto glamour."

The community had to offer young people an alternative to the 'big fix' and 'big ling,' CI Logan said.

The police had an uphill battle when it came to tackling the growing drug trade, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Michael Fuller said.

Last year it is estimated, that police seized only one-tenth of all drugs imported into the capital.

"In many ways it's a David and Goliath situation," DAC Fuller said.

Also many drug dealers were revered by the younger generation," he said.

Despite the tough task the Met police was determined to focus on the drug dealers to make sure they did not profit from their illegal and harmful occupation, he said.

Haringey Peace Alliance chairperson Pastor Nims Obunge said: when it came to black on black crime, 'we need to engage the community.'

It was about partnerships because the police could only do as much as the community allowed them, he said.

Until the community breaks it's silence the killing would continue, Pastor Obunge said.