Being part of a friendship group is a normal part of growing up and it can be common for groups of children and young people to gather together in public places to socialise. Belonging to such a group can form a positive and normal part of young people’s growth and development. These groups should be distinguished from ‘street gangs’ for whom crime and violence are a core part of their identity. Although some group gatherings can lead to increased antisocial behaviour and youth offending, these activities should not be confused with the serious violence of a gang.
Children and young people who become involved in gangs are at risk of violent crime and are therefore deemed vulnerable and in need of safeguarding..
The nature and characteristics of gangs vary but generally:
- Members are predominantly young
- Members are predominantly male
- Members begin offending early and have extensive criminal histories.
- They are often territorially based or linked to a particular religion
- They deal in drugs as a way to make money
Girls tend to be less willing than boys to identify themselves as gang members but tend to be drawn into male gangs as girlfriends of existing members. They (and sisters of gang members) are at particular risk of being sexually exploited or abused, but this risk may also affect male gang members.
Children particularly vulnerable to suffering harm in the gang context are those who are:
- Not involved in gangs, but living in an area where gangs are active and are at risk of becoming victims of gangs; or of becoming drawn in to gang activity
- Gang-involved and at risk of harm through their gang-related activities e.g. supply or use of drugs, weapon use, sexual exploitation and risk of attack from own or rival gang members
Risks associated with gang violence include:
- Retaliatory violence
- Territorial violence
- Increased likelihood of involvement in knife/gun crime, sexual violence and substance misuse
Young people involved in gangs should be held responsible for their actions and harmful behaviour but practitioners also have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of these young people and to prevent further harm both to themselves and to other potential victims. As many young people are likely to have a dual victim and perpetrator status, it is vital that practitioners assess their needs and provide support alongside a criminal justice response. Close partnership working and shared intelligence between Children’s Social Care, the Police and other agencies will be vital to achieve the right balance of support and criminal justice whilst safeguarding the child’s welfare.
Any agency or practitioner who has concerns that a child may be at risk of harm as a consequence of gang activity must contact Children’s Social Care or the Police. Their needs will be assessed as for all young people and any services or safeguarding actions initiated as indicated by the assessment.
At lower levels of risk the CAF may be a crucial tool in the early identification of children who need additional support due to risk of involvement in gang activity.
Practitioners should be aware of any potential threats to safety during interaction with a child before, or during, the undertaking of an assessment or enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and should make a decision on the suitability of a home visit. It may be more appropriate to interview the child and/or parents and carers in a neutral setting.
Information-sharing about high-risk families and individuals (such as those who carry lethal weapons) should be considered across all agencies that might have interaction with that individual, such as Health, Children’s Social Care and the Police.
Ref:
DCSF Safeguarding Children and Young People who may be Affected by Gang Activity
Working Together 2010 Chapter 6 Para 6.5
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE:-
Risk Factors for a Person Becoming Involved in Gangs
High Risk Factors:
- Early problems with antisocial and criminal behaviour
- Persistent offending
- Unable to regulate own emotions and behaviour
- Physical violence and aggression
- Permanent exclusion from school
- Friends condoning or involved in antisocial and aggressive behaviour
- Alcohol and drug misuse
- Lax parental supervision
- Lack of parental attachment to child
- Conflict and violence in the home
- Parental abuse
- Parents aggressive towards or unwilling to engage with statutory agencies
- Child is not protected from significant harm or danger, including contact with unsafe adults
- Family members involved with or associated with gangs
- Community norms that tolerate crime
- Local tensions between ethnic/cultural/religious gangs
- Presence of gangs in community/known gang recruitment at school
- High level of local crime including a drugs market
Medium Risk Factors:
- Mental health problems
- Behavioural problems
- Truancy and unauthorised absence from school
- Bullied or bullying others
- Medical history of repeated injuries or accidents
- Child in local authority care or leaving care
- Lack of emotional care
- Parents allow child to associate with known troublemakers
- Violent discipline used in home or lack of parental discipline
- Inconsistent or minimal boundaries
- Availability and use of drugs
- Criminal conviction of parents or siblings
- Witness or victim of domestic violence
Low Risk Factors:
- Aggressive bullying by siblings
- Lack of ethnic identity
- Peer rejection
- Not involved in positive activities
- Few social ties
- Exposure to violent media
- Parents don’t model positive and responsible behaviour
- Absent parent
- Unstable family environment
- Child left with multiple or unsuitable carers
- Parents unable to communicate effectively with children
- Parent-child separation
- Lack of positive role models in the community
- Transient families
- Lack of age-appropriate, safe play facilities or diversionary activities for young people in the area
- Financial difficulties affecting child
- Little interaction with neighbours/community and lack of reliable support from wider family
- High unemployment/sustained poverty
- Limited access to conventional careers
Signs of involvement in gangs include:
- Child withdrawn from family
- Sudden loss of interest in school. Decline in attendance or academic achievement;
- Started to use new or unknown slang words
- Holds unexplained money or possessions
- Stays out unusually late without reason
- Sudden change in appearance – dressing in a particular style or ‘uniform’ similar to that of other young people they hang around with, including a particular colour
- Dropped out of positive activities
- New nickname
- Unexplained physical injuries
- Graffiti style ‘tags’ on possessions, school books, walls
- Constantly talking about another young person who seems to have a lot of influence over them
- Broken off with old friends and hangs around with one group of people
- Increased use of social networking sites
- Started adopting certain codes of group behaviour e.g. ways of talking and hand signs
- Expressing aggressive or intimidating views towards other groups of young people, some of whom may have been friends in the past;
- Scared when entering certain areas
- Concerned by the presence of unknown youths in their neighbourhoods.
