Offender Management Community Scoping of London Gang ...

Table of contents
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 6
2. Literature review on gangs in Britain ........................................................................... 7
2.1 Recent trends .......................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Definitional Issues .................................................................................................. 8
2.3 The characteristics of the gang ............................................................................. 10
2.4 Intervening in gangs ............................................................................................. 10
3. Dynamics and Drivers of Serious Group Offending in London ................................. 13
3.1 Methodology ......................................................................................................... 13
3.2 Factors underlying the formation of gangs in London ........................................ 14
3.2.1 The link between gang neighbourhoods and deprivation .............................. 15
3.3. The development of gangs in London ................................................................. 18
3.3.1 Gang culture, schools and colleges ............................................................... 18
3.3.2 Re-organisation of gangs into smaller units ................................................. 20
3.3.4 Economic changes and urban development .................................................. 21
3.3.5. Manipulation by older gang members of local youth ................................... 22
3.3.6. Conflict amongst the age ranks .................................................................... 23
3.3.7. Links built through the prison system .......................................................... 23
3.3.8 Age structure of gangs ................................................................................... 24
3.4 Changes in London gang culture in the recent past and implications for violent 26
3.4.1 Change in seriousness of conflict, triggers, and the age of those involved ... 26
3.4.2 Links between gangs formed over larger distances and how music groups
aligned with the gangs can promote this ................................................................ 27
3.4.3 Mobile phones ............................................................................................... 27
3.4.4 Adoption of American gang cultural definers ............................................... 28
3.4.5 Use of weapons .............................................................................................. 28
3.5. London gang alliances ......................................................................................... 28
3.5.1 Alliances as a result of gangs combining against common enemies ............. 28
3.5.2 Alliances formed through friend and familial links with different gangs ..... 29
3.5.3 Alliances built through gang associated music crews and illegitimate business
................................................................................................................................ 29
3.6. Dynamics of Gang Rivalries................................................................................ 30
3.6.1 Reputational Violence ................................................................................... 31
3.6.2 Long-standing feuds and retaliatory violence ............................................... 31
Table 3.3: Gang Rivalries ........................................................................................... 32
4. Interviews and case studies......................................................................................... 34
4.1 Sample .................................................................................................................. 34
4.1.2 General Observations .................................................................................... 34
4.1.3 Unpaid Work ................................................................................................. 35
4.1.4 Community Supervision ................................................................................ 35
4.1.5 Prison based practitioners .............................................................................. 36
4.1.6 Practitioner Concerns .................................................................................... 37
4.2 Thematic issues to consider .................................................................................. 37
4.2.1 Communication ............................................................................................. 37
4.2.2 Multi-agency cooperation .............................................................................. 38
4.2.3 Health and Safety........................................................................................... 40