Secondary school pupils’ perceptions of safety, gang activity and weapons carrying in an English city Carol Hayden ICJS University of Portsmouth

A National problem: ‘Call for tough knife laws after teen death’ Senior officer urges mandatory jail terms after second death in six days Mark Townsend, crime correspondent, Sunday January 6, 2008 The Observer The Observer

The Police Response – to deaths in one city “In the wake of X’s death, and that of ….. teenager X in February, Chief superintendant… has given all officers emergency powers to stop and search any person or vehicle for weapons, without having to give a reason….The extra powers are likely to carry on into next week and must be reviewed every 24 hours….” (Local paper, April 2007)

Multi-Agency Steering Group Focus – developing strategy to reduce the use of knives and ‘gang culture’ in the city; researching young people’s experiences was part of the remit Representation – Police, YOT, City Youth Service, Education (within Children’s Services), Head Teachers, Community Safety, ICJS/UoP Politics – who wanted this survey and who didn’t?

The Survey: overall aim and objectives Overall Aim: To conduct a survey of year 10 pupils in mainstream state Secondary schools (in one city) during and around Anti-Bullying week (November 19-23, 2007) Objectives: To establish prevalence data on the following problematic behaviours amongst year 10 mainstream state school pupils: bullying (in and out of school); gang membership; weapons carrying (in and out of school) To obtain measures of ‘school connectedness’ and ‘perceptions of safety’ to compare against the problem behaviours To provide feedback information to individual schools on the basis of which they can plan a response to the survey To give pupils accurate information about the legality of knife carrying (information supplied by the police) and information about independent external advice (card with contact details and services from an independent youth advice agency that has agreed to provide support) available in relation to any of the issues raised by the questionnaire To provide a local authority multi-agency steering group with a report on the survey to inform strategy development on responding to knife crime and ‘gangs’ in the city

Practical and ethical considerations Rationale – mainstream, year 10, Anti-Bullying week Developing the questions asked Pilot Gaining access to schools – the need for flexibility Developing a coherent research team - youth workers and others (12 people in all) Ethical considerations

The sample All 14 mainstream secondary schools accessed in and around November 2007; 76 different groups (tutor or teaching groups) Completed questionnaires: 1,426 (62% of all year 10 pupils in the city)

The sample Mean age of sample: 14.2 yearsGender: 51% Female 49% Male

Key initial findings: ‘gangs’ ‘Eurogang’ criteria: self nomination (also included a funnelling style with two questions on this); think doing things against the law is ok; do things against the law as part of a gang; time spent on the street together; have own territory or area; been part of the gang for 3 months or more.

Key initial findings: ‘gangs’

Key initial findings:weapons

Key initial findings: safety

Perceptions about safety ‘Its not safe in estates, as my cousin was stabbed in WestX. I feel safe at daytime but not at night time. I don’t like X.’ ‘I don’t feel safe on the streets of X, as there are too many groups of teenagers who go around picking on people.’ ‘I only feel safe when I’m with a big group of friends.’ ‘I think you can feel safe somewhere but you have to be careful of everything at all times anyway. But at school I think I feel safe because of the teachers.’

What is a gang? ‘A gang is a group of people who hang around the streets and go against the law.’ ‘I think a gang is a group of people that cause trouble and go against the law. Gangs can be highly intimidating towards other groups.’ ‘A group of people who call a bit of land there’s, some carry weapons, think they are cool. A little crew of friends. Doesn’t have to be violent. If any of the members are in trouble others are there to back them up.’ ‘Have a particular name. Well-known. Group of people.’ ‘A group of friends or a group of people who share some interests.’

Is there a weapons carrying culture amongst some young people? ‘I think some people carry knives but I don’t know them.’ ‘Anything can be used as a weapon if you want it to be.’ ‘People copy what they see on TV, films and what they wear in music because they think it is right.’ ‘Not all teenagers want to fight or carry a weapon.’ ‘In this school we don’t have a knife carrying culture that we are aware of.’

Conclusions Surveys like this need to be done with great sensitivity and with the provision of access to help for the young people surveyed The survey results have yet to be finalised and presented to the steering group (in February 2008); after which all schools will get individualised reports It is highly likely that the results will be worrying for teachers in mainstream schools

What will be the response? “This is very interesting and I'm pleased that all schools have responded. Our results at first glance seem what I expected and similar to previous results for the bullying and the relationship with school questions. I am concerned though about the weapons bit. How reliable will these responses be from your research experience? Even one gun in school causes me to have the 'sweats'. I look forward to discussing the results with you and others and taking a considered way forward.” Head Teacher of pilot school who had early feedback on their school