1. Gangs and Groups
Make a Change Team
Charlie

2. What is a gang?
In 2015 the Home Office revised statutory guidance to reflect changes to the legislation on gang injunctions to include gang-related drug dealing. It had previously just covered gang-related violence.
These changes also amended the statutory definition of a gang to make it less prescriptive and more flexible.
A gang is now defined as having one or more characteristics that enable its members to be identified as a group by others.
Charlie

3. See themselves (and are seen by others)as a noticeable group, and
A gang is usually considered to be a group of people who spend time in public places who:
See themselves (and are seen by others)as a noticeable group, and
Engage in a range of criminal activity and violence
They may also have any or all of the following features:
- Identify with or lay a claim over territory,
- are in conflict with other, similar gangs
However if the majority of offending is of a lower non-violent level then they would be considered a peer group not a gang.
Charlie

4. Why do young people join gangs?
Boredom Looking for excitement Attracted to power or status Sense of belonging Peer pressure Money problems Family/Home life difficulties
Jess

5. Girls & Gangs Used to hold or transport drugs or weapons
More likely to be asked to move drugs as thought to be less likely to be stopped
Usually in a relationship with or linked via family to a male associated with gangs / organised crime networks
Risk of CSE is increased
In some areas there is evidence that sex is exchanged for status within a gang
Sex has been used by some gangs ( no evidence in Suffolk) as part of the initiation process as a way to control, humiliate and demonstrate group loyalty
May be used to actively recruit new members locally
Jess
Relatively still unknown entity in Suffolk
Possible that girls are being used to actively recruit other females to joilocal groups following information from other young people
Girls in this context are often viewed as a commodity
Across country have been used to hold weapons, book hire cars, set up accounts for laundered money.
Girls may be at risk of being exploited both violently and/or sexually due to gang associations with family members and peers. They may not recognise that they are at risk and may ‘idolise’ the male gang members who they perceive as having status and wealth. Others may not see any safe way out and know that the repercussions of telling anyone about what is happening will result in rape, physical violence or being branded or cast out by their peers. Some females from black and minority ethnic communities in particular, may not disclose the abuse to their parents for fear that they will be perceived to have brought shame on their family. ( Safeguarding Children Affected by Gang Activity and / or Gang-related serious youth violence
Whilst CSE is the most prevalent form of victimisation that girls will experience, they do not always present as obvious victims and may too be involved in criminal gang related behaviour (often as a result of their relationships, coercion and control). As a result of this young women can remain hidden because their vulnerability is not recognised.
– Islington SCB 2016.
Watch Gangs girls film ( 13 minutes)

6. The Suffolk Picture County lines Establishment of drug dealing groups
Young people being used to distribute
Active recruitment of additional members
Cuckooing
Young people going missing ( and for longer) and being located in areas further away
Weapons
Drug debts – linked violence
Charlie
County lines – from London unclear where from but in Ipswich seem to be mainly South London
2 main groups
Possibly emergence of a third-
Police operation targeting behaviours recently
National picture has evolved and Suffolk has seemed to follow:
More organised and efficient akin to a business model – clear hierarchy
Increased social competition
Increased use of Social Media
‘Remote mothering’
Increased use of ‘trap houses’ often in multiples
Normalised violence
Involvement of girls
Imperative to maintain street capital when increased social competition
Social norms are altered and there are new extremes
Videos / music videos
Access to firearms and knives

7. Charlie

8. Why are we concerned? Impact
A child or young person who is affected by gang activity or serious youth violence can be at risk of significant harm.
Exploitation to commit crimes such as selling drugs, stealing phones etc
Retaliatory violence
Psychological harm due to the trauma gang members experience and witness
Physical harm suffered – whilst committing a crime or due to drug debts
Violence to assert authority in the local area
Sexual violence and sexual exploitation
Charlie
Gangs operating county lines are targeting the most vulnerable children and adults in our communities; looked after children, targeting care homes, pupil referral units and the homes of vulnerable adults and those with mental health issues.
Children and vulnerable people are being placed at risk and being drawn into violence and criminality through the model. They are used to deliver drugs or operate out of local bases in the county/coastal locations.
Children are being subjected to debt bondage, threats and violence (knives as most common weapon). Vulnerable adults are losing control of their homes through cuckooing.
shows age of children being drawn into county lines is getting younger. Age range with as most common age. Some areas ( conference last year) Wider age range across the hierarchy (8 – 24+)
Local examples –
Retaliatory violence - Recent videos
KG – Burns

9. Risk indicators
Presenting with physical injuries and or refusal to seek/ receive medical treatment
Associating with peers who are involved / suspected to be involved in gang related activity
Started adopting certain codes of group behaviour (e.g.hand signs, wearing specific colours)
Refuses / scared to enter certain areas
Expressing aggressive or intimidating views towards other groups of young people ( some of whom may have been friends in the past)
Multiple mobile phones / frequent change of phone number
Jess
There are a number of factors that would be deemed strong indicators that a young person may be involved in gang related activity and could be at risk of offending:
The Early Intervention foundation completed paper into the risk indicators in 2015 linked with gang / group offending
YOS experience
Frequently missing or missing for significant periods of time - returning home late, refuses to say where they have been and generally disregarding parent/carer boundaries
Have become withdrawn within the home – this may coincide with reduced attendance at school and disengaging from positive activities
Travelling around a lot – seen in taxi’s regularly / being seen in cars (often hire cars) with unknown adults on a regular basis
Visiting specific areas – may be scared to enter other areas or concerned about threat from others.
– Hotels included – use of B&Bs recent example / cuckooing
Frequently presenting with new possessions or appear to have access to large amounts of unexplained money for their age
Indication that a debt may be owed to another / others
Participation in incidents of aggression or violence ( more likely to be in a group context)
Current or previous links with drug related offending/offenders – specifically the supply of Class A substances
Information to suggest that the young person carries a weapon
A street name / ‘tag’ has been heard
Sibling involvement in a gang
Low level criminality e.g. theft.
Associates with older individuals known / thought to have links with organised crime groups
Links with gangs previously and have been re-located in Suffolk
Once involved over the course of time the choice element of association is gone and child or Young person finds it more difficult to get out of

10. Case Study
J is now 17 years of age. He is Black Portuguese and resides in Ipswich with his mother and siblings.
J was referred to Suffolk CYPS in 2015 for being involved with a local gang known as J – Block. The gang has come to the attention of the police and CYPS as well as other agencies for its involvement with drug running/dealing, violence as well as carrying weapons and anti -social behaviour. There are concerns for the young gang members being exploited and as a result of their involvement in the gang young people frequently become separated from their families and dependent upon the gang to have their everyday needs, met such as food, clothing and accommodation. These young people are reported missing to the police but are difficult to engage as the culture of the gang insists upon secrecy around its criminal behaviour and activity.
Charlie
What Risks and consequences can you identify for J?
What Intervention would you put in place for J?
Risks and consequences for J
J was sad he had upset his mother and was reluctant to return home at night as he feared repercussions on his family from drug dealers. J felt he had let his mother down and was responsible for her unhappiness.
J became used to having large amounts of money and recognition of gang members for escalation of risky behaviours including use of weapons and violent crime.
J had become involved in heavy cannabis use and was edging towards Class A dealing
J was being exploited by older gang members and used for criminal gain alongside other vulnerable young people
Intervention
J was referred through the MASH for a social work assessment. This assessment highlighted the concerns for J primarily as a result of his involvement with the gang.
A child in need plan was put in place in co -operation with J’s mother who was finding difficulty in managing J’s behaviour and resistance to any boundaries.
The social work assessment triggered an activity to the Make a Change team who allocated a worker to J.
Following some investigative work with the police and subsequent safeguarding strategy meetings resulting from periods of J being missing, it was determined J was at risk of significant harm and an initial child protection conference was held and J was placed on a child protection plan. This gave responsibility to the Multi agency group to monitor and progress plans for J in collaboration with the social worker and Make A Change worker.
J was presented to the Tactical and Tasking Co Ordination group for consideration of resources to not only locate him, but also to divert his behaviour. This led to a psychological assessment being commissioned through the youth offending service. J attended this appointment as part of his youth offending order. The results demonstrated that whilst J was able to function alongside his peers his level of comprehension and insight was limited and hence he was easily led and vulnerable to exploitation. This assessment guided the future approach taken by professionals in their work with J.
The police worked intensively alongside Make A Change and the social care team resulting in a shared approach to managing J’s behaviour and the risks he was taking. The police were given access to the assessment and adjusted their responses to J when located on the streets accordingly. Hence police approached J with consistency and a full understanding of the desired outcome for him rather than as a criminal.
The main essence of the work with J focussed on perseverance and disruption tactics such as dispersal plans by Ipswich borough council.
J was enrolled with a football academy for his education provision.