London Gangs - youlikewelike

LONDON GANGS: ON THE LIST

There has been an increase in the number of gangs operating in London over the past five years and today gangs are responsible for more than a fifth of youth crime in the city, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The largest number of gangs are said to be in Hackney (22 gangs); Enfield (13); Lambeth and Merton (12 gangs each); Waltham Forest (11) and Brent (11) and typically these gangs have around 20 to 30 members, and commit crimes in smaller groups of three to six.

Why exactly are young people joining these gangs in the first place? Some say gang membership offers safety from other gangs operating in the local area, while other claim that it confers status in a world obsessed with who has what. But what is a gang in the first place and were you in a gang when you were younger? Many people were, particularly if they grew up in major cities.

Today there are a number of definitions for 'gang' if you trawl the Internet. One describes a gang as 'an association of criminals'. A bit harsh, I'd say, particularly as I was a member of a gang (even though I did not get involved in criminal activity). Another definition is of 'an informal body of friends' (which best describes the gang I belonged to).

So what's gone wrong? Why are gangs receiving so much publicity now and are they as big a problem that they are presented as being? Gangs are certainly not new and do not have to be dangerous in themselves, so why do gangs seem to be becoming more violent? Some say there is a lack of role models in contemporary society (can you name a good youth role model, for example?), though more to the point, can we name a good black role model for young men?

Others argue that our society has become more violent, individually-focused and about short-term, shallow gratification. Subsequently, as class loyalty and identity have broken down all that seems to be left for many young people is what they can get for themselves, and how powerful and financially successful they can be. And if that is the case, short-term violent transient loyalties and associated violence may be the logical result. For years Gordon Brown argued that British society should be more like America's, and now it is: The country has changed.

Whatever the reasons and motivations, the debate is sure to continue.

words: Terry Bowen

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