Offender Management Community Scoping of London Gang ...

have to consist of former gang members. Associates, affiliates or other people
who grew up in “gangland” may wish to express their life experience through a
specific type of music, often „UK grime‟ – popularly showcased on Channel U.
Often the music crews aligned with the gangs will link up together to make
music. Whilst the links between music crews are generally for the purpose of
the music, they can lead to links amongst the gangs because of the close
relationships the artists may have with the neighbourhood gang.
At the higher level of the gangs the olders and elders who are less active on the
street conflict often make links for business – to expand dealing turf and to
increase their pool of suppliers amongst other things. One gang is even said to
be working with permission under the name of a well known organised crime
group from Islington established since the 1970s 35 . Former London gangs,
including the Shadow Kings and African Crew, both specialising in drugs, were
said to have been supplied from organised Turkish criminals in north London
(Linnane, 2004). Grahame McLagan (2006) in his book „Gangs and Guns‟,
which heavily sources Operation Trident intelligence files, speaks of the links
that had been made by Mark Lambie leader of the Tottenham Mandem to
gangs in Brixton, Harlesden, Leyton and Shepherds Bush.
3.6. Dynamics of Gang Rivalries
Gang rivalries can occur for the same reasons as gang alliances, or following
alliances should the group members fall-out. Most gang rivalries appear to be a
result of the younger generation, whose activities revolve predominantly around
protecting their gang territory. They form their gang identities and reputation
through violence and earn their „stars‟ by committing robberies. Gangs are
organised around norms that support the use of violence to settle disputes,
achieve group goals and defend identity. Furthermore, “when a gang member‟s
identity is challenged, violence is often a result, especially if the challenger is a
stranger. If a gang member does not comply with gang role expectations when
they are challenged, the result may be a loss of respect” (Stretesky & Pogrebin,
2007, 89). The rivalries between the younger generations therefore are often
the result of very minor disputes and signs of disrespect, disputes involving
individual members of gangs and robberies.
Sometimes these routine conflicts may escalate and serious incidents, such as
a stabbing or a murder. When such an event occurs, the rivalry becomes more
permanent. The olders are less involved in the street conflict and their criminal
activities are focused to more profitable robberies, such as cash in transit, and
dealing or supply of drugs. More importance is given to making money and
avoiding police attention by the olders and conflict is less common, although
serious incidents can occur as a result of reprisals for past incidents.
Violence by serious group offenders can be placed in three categories, the first
two of which will tend to cause rivalries that lead to reprisal:
‣ Intra-gang violence. Conflict is internal to the group.
35 Source: an Islington “entrepreneur”
30