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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.

Funding

• Home Office Youth Sector Development Fund (YSDF) – reaching young people most likely to be affected by knife crime. The third YSDF funding round is aimed at Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) working in Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) police force areas who have the potential to develop existing work that has successfully diverted vulnerable young people away from knife crime. YSDF will fund 3 or 4 TSOs with a proven track record of successfully engaging with at-risk youth.
  Deadline for applications: Noon, 5th March 2009.
  For more information go to: ysdf.ecotec.com

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/
  
  
• Time for Action – The Mayor’s proposals for Equipping Young People for the Future and Preventing Violence
  Consultation period ended 16.12.08. In Spring 2009 the Mayor will publish a series of delivery programmes for each of the agreed projects outlined in the plan.
  www.london.gov.uk/mayor/crime/timeforaction
  
  
• Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) - a cross-government action programme committed to reducing incidents of death and serious violence among teenagers. TKAP launched in June 2008. The programme currently covers 10 police force areas. www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk
  
  
• 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/
  
  
• Saving Lives. Reducing Harm. Protecting the Pubic - Government Action Plan for Tackling Violence 2008-11
  Published Feb 2008 www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk
  Implementation guidance: www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/tvap
  
  
• 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/
  
  
• Home Affairs Committee Knife Crime Report
  The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee launched a report titled "Knife Crime - Seventh Report of Session 2008–09" on June 2nd 2009.  The report is viewable in two formats: a browsable web based version - part 1 & part 2 and as a downloadable PDF - part 1 & part 2.

Downloads

• Gangs: You and Your Child
  Home Office guidance for parents, with information on how to protect children from gangs.
  www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety
  
• Talk About Knives
  Home Office guide for parents
  campaigns.direct.gov.uk/talkaboutknives
  
  
• 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/

• Die Another Day
  A practitioner’s review with recommendations for preventing gang and weapon violence in London in 2008 - written by Jonathon Toy and published in 2009.
  Die Another Day PDF