Guns, Gangs & Knives
The increasing use of knives and guns and the prevalence of gang culture amongst young people in London is of concern to community safety practitioners and the general public alike.
In the twelve months to July 2007 there have been 3,607 incidences of gun enabled crime, an increase of 3.5% on the same period in 2005/06 and by August 2007 the year to date had seen 124 shootings in the capital, 17 of which had been fatal.
Knife enabled crime is also rising. 52 teenagers are victims of knife crime every week in London and approximately a third of all murders are carried out with a knife.
A Metropolitan Police report earlier identified 169 separate gangs in London and claimed that they are responsible for more than a fifth of all youth crime in the capital. It said more than a quarter were believed to have been involved in murders.
However, the term 'gang' is used in many different ways by the media, police, community organisations and the Government, with definitions ranging from 'a group of young people hanging around shopping centres' to 'organised criminal gangs'.
London Metropolitan University's Operation Cruise research study defined gangs as:
"Relatively durable, predominantly street based groups of young people who see themselves (and are seen by others) as a discernable group for whom crime and violence is integral to the group's identity."
This definition has been adopted by the Greater London Authority?s Guns, Gangs and Weapons Forum.
Generally it is found that neighbourhoods with high levels of deprivation and social exclusion have the highest rates of gang activity and gun and knife crime.
Below are some links to information to help you in your work around guns, gangs and knives.
Links
- Greater London Authority - Guns, Gangs & Weapons Forum
Partnership working for groups active in this area, includes a directory of projects.
www.london.gov.uk/gangs/ - The Street Weapons Commission
The Street Weapons Commission is an independent and diverse group of commissioners chaired by Cherie Booth. They are tasked with examining the problem of gun and knife crime on Britain's streets, and will attempt to find out why so many young people now routinely carry guns and knives.
www.channel4.com/news/microsites/S/street_weapons_commission - Connected
Part of the Home Office strategy to tackle gun crime and gun culture, aimed at working with community groups.
www.connected.gov.uk/ - Its Not A Game
Website focussing on knife crime run by the Metropolitan Police
www.itsnotagame.org/ - Stop the Guns
Operation Trident website
www.stoptheguns.org/ - Calling the Shots
A multi-media education and information resource designed to engage young people and stimulate discussion about their attitudes towards guns.
www.callingtheshots.org.uk/
Downloads
- Fear and Fashion Report
On the use of knives and other weapons by young people.
www.bridgehousetrust.org.uk/ - Reluctant Gangsters - Youth Gangs In Waltham Forest
A report published in 2007 based on the findings of anecdotal evidence and interviews with street gang members in Waltham Forest.
www.walthamforest.gov.uk/reluctant-gangsters.pdf Building Bridges Project
A project empowering young people through human rights values: Fighting the knife culture. First report published July 2007.
www.rota.org.uk/
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