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Teenagers 'scared to leave homes' Teenagers 'scared to leave homes'
(1 day later)
The fear of gang attacks is stopping young people from straying from their neighbourhood, research has suggested. The fear of gang attacks is stopping young Glaswegians from straying from their neighbourhood, a study has found.
A study involving 60 teenagers from Glasgow found that gang rivalry meant young people felt threatened walking just a few streets from their home. A study involving 60 teenagers from the city found that gang rivalry meant young people felt threatened walking just a few streets from their home.
Job opportunities, leisure activities and relationships were all suffering as a result, the research found.Job opportunities, leisure activities and relationships were all suffering as a result, the research found.
Glasgow MSP Robert Brown said the study showed why the Strathclyde Police force funding shortfall had to be addressed.Glasgow MSP Robert Brown said the study showed why the Strathclyde Police force funding shortfall had to be addressed.
Almost half of the young people interviewed said they were or had been gang members in Govan, Govanhill, Parkhead, Shettleston, Easterhouse and Ibrox.Almost half of the young people interviewed said they were or had been gang members in Govan, Govanhill, Parkhead, Shettleston, Easterhouse and Ibrox.
Dr Ross Deuchar, of the University of Strathclyde, said of his findings: "Glasgow's housing schemes were dominated by territorial issues and many young people felt unable to cross territorial boundaries because of fear.Dr Ross Deuchar, of the University of Strathclyde, said of his findings: "Glasgow's housing schemes were dominated by territorial issues and many young people felt unable to cross territorial boundaries because of fear.
"Territorial issues were clearly placing limits on young people's freedom and this impacted on their employment prospects, their ability to engage in recreational and leisure activities, to move house or engage in trustful relationships with others."Territorial issues were clearly placing limits on young people's freedom and this impacted on their employment prospects, their ability to engage in recreational and leisure activities, to move house or engage in trustful relationships with others.
Gang culture is deeply ingrained in parts of the cityGang culture is deeply ingrained in parts of the city
"Even those young people who managed to stay away from gang culture suffered from a lack of spatial mobility and a feeling of being trapped.""Even those young people who managed to stay away from gang culture suffered from a lack of spatial mobility and a feeling of being trapped."
One gang member told the study: "They offered me (accommodation in another housing) scheme right across from us, and obviously I can't get a house there because as soon as you get there you'll just get the door kicked in.One gang member told the study: "They offered me (accommodation in another housing) scheme right across from us, and obviously I can't get a house there because as soon as you get there you'll just get the door kicked in.
"So you stay in your own scheme because you know everybody, you know the surroundings.""So you stay in your own scheme because you know everybody, you know the surroundings."
Another said that although he could go to a work placement during the day, he could not go to a nearby cinema at any time.Another said that although he could go to a work placement during the day, he could not go to a nearby cinema at any time.
"You cannot go to the pictures because there's schemies (rival gang members) about there so if you go down there you just end up fighting," he said."You cannot go to the pictures because there's schemies (rival gang members) about there so if you go down there you just end up fighting," he said.
The restrictions were found to apply to non-gang members too.The restrictions were found to apply to non-gang members too.
Dr Deuchar said one youth "talked about having to take long routes home from football training on a Friday night to avoid getting caught in the middle of the fights between rival gangs".Dr Deuchar said one youth "talked about having to take long routes home from football training on a Friday night to avoid getting caught in the middle of the fights between rival gangs".
The lecturer said gang membership gave young people a sense of belonging and excitement, allowing them to earn respect by being macho and violent, and was a means of getting protection from other gangs.The lecturer said gang membership gave young people a sense of belonging and excitement, allowing them to earn respect by being macho and violent, and was a means of getting protection from other gangs.
'No surprise''No surprise'
In his paper Gangs, Sectarianism And Social Capital: A Qualitative Study Of Young People In Scotland, Dr Deuchar argued that feelings of exclusion among young people were increasing in Glasgow, as gang membership increased.In his paper Gangs, Sectarianism And Social Capital: A Qualitative Study Of Young People In Scotland, Dr Deuchar argued that feelings of exclusion among young people were increasing in Glasgow, as gang membership increased.
Robert Brown, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Glasgow, said the research would come as no surprise to the city's police and youth workers.Robert Brown, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Glasgow, said the research would come as no surprise to the city's police and youth workers.
"It is, however, a further reason why Strathclyde's police forces funding gap must be addressed as a matter of urgency," he said."It is, however, a further reason why Strathclyde's police forces funding gap must be addressed as a matter of urgency," he said.
"Very good work is being done by projects like Operation Reclaim with the full support of the police to break down gang barriers."Very good work is being done by projects like Operation Reclaim with the full support of the police to break down gang barriers.
"We cannot afford to see a reduction in police strength if these efforts are to succeed.""We cannot afford to see a reduction in police strength if these efforts are to succeed."
Dr Deuchar's research will appear in the journal Sociology, published by the British Sociological Association.Dr Deuchar's research will appear in the journal Sociology, published by the British Sociological Association.