Gangs

A gang is a group of people who may be involved in crime and violence. Many young people will not realise they are in a gang, they will just think they are in a group of friends. It's important to remember that being in a gang is not illegal, only the criminal offences committed are illegal.

Being in a gang puts children and young people at more risk of:

committing crime
dealing or taking drugs
ending up in prison
being a victim of violence and even death.

Why do young people join street gangs?

Young people can join gangs for a number of reasons. They can join for:

recognition
excitement
friends
acceptance
a sense of belonging
power over other people
money from crime
protection
territory
respect.

Gangs and the law

Although there are no laws banning gangs or gang membership, there are laws to prevent the criminal activities linked to gangs.

It is illegal to have or carry drugs like cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.
It is illegal to carry any knife if there is intent to use it as a weapon (even if it belongs to someone else).
It is illegal to carry or keep a gun without a licence, including fake or replica guns.
Police can (and will) search anyone they think may be carrying a gun or a knife.
Police and school staff can also search young people for weapons at school.
Offenders who are members of a gang could face longer sentences if they have to appear in court.

Carrying a gun or a knife could mean being arrested, going to court and ending up with a criminal record that will affect the rest of that person’s life. Having a criminal record can prevent people from getting a job, going to university or college, or even travelling abroad.

Advice for parents

Be on the look-out for warning signs that suggest your child may be involved in a gang.

Visual signs

Gang symbols: on schoolbooks, pencil cases, bags, bedroom posters and personal possessions.
Clothing: young people wearing certain colours relating to specific gangs.
Hand signals: sometimes hand signals are given by individuals to show which gang they are aligned.
Postcodes: young people often align themselves to postcodes.

Behaviour

A rise in skipping school.
Sudden changes in your child’s selection of friends.
An increased number of social groups with unusual ‘gang’ names your child is hanging around with.
Your child may experience bullying and pressure to join a gang.
They may be vague or secretive about their activities.
Possessing relatively large sums of money or bringing expensive items home.
Getting in trouble with the police.

Online

Be aware of the websites your child is viewing. Social networking sites can give access to images and words promoting gang culture.
Chat rooms and texts can be used to bully young people into joining gangs.

Music

Rap music associated with gangs can be threatening and violent.
Know what your children are listening to.

For in-depth advice, visit gov.uk