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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rape 'now gang weapon of choice' | Rape 'now gang weapon of choice' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Young women are being exploited and subjected to sexual violence as a result of gang reprisals, according to a report. | Young women are being exploited and subjected to sexual violence as a result of gang reprisals, according to a report. |
| Interviews with more than 350 women and girls by the charity Race on the Agenda revealed the use of rape to punish girl gang members and relatives of rivals. | Interviews with more than 350 women and girls by the charity Race on the Agenda revealed the use of rape to punish girl gang members and relatives of rivals. |
| The women and girls interviewed were all associated with gangs in London. | The women and girls interviewed were all associated with gangs in London. |
| Report author Carlene Firmin said rape was being used "as a weapon of choice" and few services were equipped to help. | Report author Carlene Firmin said rape was being used "as a weapon of choice" and few services were equipped to help. |
| She described one interview with a girl who had been arrested for selling drugs for a gang. | She described one interview with a girl who had been arrested for selling drugs for a gang. |
| I've beaten up people - I've had 10 people rush me at one time - got my head bust open with a bottle Gang member Rebecca | I've beaten up people - I've had 10 people rush me at one time - got my head bust open with a bottle Gang member Rebecca |
| "Upon her bail, she was kidnapped and she was raped by a number of the gang members as a punishment and to silence her," she said. | "Upon her bail, she was kidnapped and she was raped by a number of the gang members as a punishment and to silence her," she said. |
| The report says little is known about the numbers of women and girls affected by gang violence - and highlights how the few services that do exist are chronically under-resourced and over-stretched. | The report says little is known about the numbers of women and girls affected by gang violence - and highlights how the few services that do exist are chronically under-resourced and over-stretched. |
| Peaches Cadogan, a former gang member who now works with charity Reality Bites trying to help gang members, backed up the report. | Peaches Cadogan, a former gang member who now works with charity Reality Bites trying to help gang members, backed up the report. |
| She said girls involved in gangs did not know how to get out of the abusive situation, and feared the backlash if they said no. | She said girls involved in gangs did not know how to get out of the abusive situation, and feared the backlash if they said no. |
| She said: "This is real life - this is them - because at the end of the day - you're not only putting yourself in that situation - you're also putting families in a situation. | She said: "This is real life - this is them - because at the end of the day - you're not only putting yourself in that situation - you're also putting families in a situation. |
| "Those gang members have no problem in just putting a gun in your mother's mouth - these things happen on a day to day basis." | "Those gang members have no problem in just putting a gun in your mother's mouth - these things happen on a day to day basis." |
| We tried to speak with some of these young women - but none would give us an interview. | We tried to speak with some of these young women - but none would give us an interview. |
| Life of violence | Life of violence |
| The focus of the debate on gangs has long centred on young men involved in knife and gun crime. But has the gang culture's impact on girls been overlooked? | The focus of the debate on gangs has long centred on young men involved in knife and gun crime. But has the gang culture's impact on girls been overlooked? |
| The issue of girls involved in gang crime is not just confined to black communities living in the impoverished estates of London. | The issue of girls involved in gang crime is not just confined to black communities living in the impoverished estates of London. |
| In London and Glasgow, a BBC investigation has spoken to young female gang members. Their names have been changed, but their stories reveal the depths of girl involvement in gangs. | In London and Glasgow, a BBC investigation has spoken to young female gang members. Their names have been changed, but their stories reveal the depths of girl involvement in gangs. |
| Rebecca describes her gang involvement | |
| "I've beaten up people - I've had 10 people rush me at one time - got my head bust open with a bottle. When I give out violence, it's because they give out violence to me - so it's pay back," said Rebecca, a London gang member. | "I've beaten up people - I've had 10 people rush me at one time - got my head bust open with a bottle. When I give out violence, it's because they give out violence to me - so it's pay back," said Rebecca, a London gang member. |
| She was smoking and dealing cannabis from the age of 13 and started selling Class A drugs when she left school. | She was smoking and dealing cannabis from the age of 13 and started selling Class A drugs when she left school. |
| "Whenever you get involved in Class A drugs and you're selling it - it comes with gun crime, knife crime, it comes with all of it. | "Whenever you get involved in Class A drugs and you're selling it - it comes with gun crime, knife crime, it comes with all of it. |
| "I've held a gun myself - not my gun...it's nothing to you - you do it without question." | "I've held a gun myself - not my gun...it's nothing to you - you do it without question." |
| The East End of Glasgow has one of the highest knife crime rates in western Europe. Young white men are predominantly involved, but in recent years there has been a shift. | The East End of Glasgow has one of the highest knife crime rates in western Europe. Young white men are predominantly involved, but in recent years there has been a shift. |
| My mum got attacked when I was not there - they battered her Gang member Louise | My mum got attacked when I was not there - they battered her Gang member Louise |
| According to workers on a youth project on the Easterhouse estate, children as young as seven are getting drawn into the violence and increasing numbers of girls are getting involved. | According to workers on a youth project on the Easterhouse estate, children as young as seven are getting drawn into the violence and increasing numbers of girls are getting involved. |
| Youth worker Stephanie Brady said: "The girls these days they join gangs to try and make friends. I think they feel as if they need to be a part of something - they've no real confidence or self-esteem." | Youth worker Stephanie Brady said: "The girls these days they join gangs to try and make friends. I think they feel as if they need to be a part of something - they've no real confidence or self-esteem." |
| There is a distinct difference with London - here it's not about the drugs. It's simply alcohol-fuelled battles between rival teenage gangs. | There is a distinct difference with London - here it's not about the drugs. It's simply alcohol-fuelled battles between rival teenage gangs. |
| Targeting family | Targeting family |
| "It's getting worser and worser so it is," said Louise, 16, who joined a gang when she was just 13. | "It's getting worser and worser so it is," said Louise, 16, who joined a gang when she was just 13. |
| "Lasses are just as bad as boys - lasses will just go and start - certain lasses they act like boys and dress like boys - they'll go about stabbing other lasses - battering other lasses and just laughing - just pick their victims." | "Lasses are just as bad as boys - lasses will just go and start - certain lasses they act like boys and dress like boys - they'll go about stabbing other lasses - battering other lasses and just laughing - just pick their victims." |
| Once in a gang you dare not venture from the boundaries of your patch. Louise made a mistake - she started dating a boy from a different area and the gang targeted her family. | Once in a gang you dare not venture from the boundaries of your patch. Louise made a mistake - she started dating a boy from a different area and the gang targeted her family. |
| "My mum got attacked when I was not there - they battered her," she said. | "My mum got attacked when I was not there - they battered her," she said. |
| You know you're always always looking over your shoulder Gang member Rebecca | You know you're always always looking over your shoulder Gang member Rebecca |
| "She had bruises all over her face and her eye was all the way out and it was - she was scared - scared of staying in our house." | "She had bruises all over her face and her eye was all the way out and it was - she was scared - scared of staying in our house." |
| In Glasgow at least the girls are escaping the targeted sexual violence, although they do speak of underage sex fuelled by drink and drugs. | In Glasgow at least the girls are escaping the targeted sexual violence, although they do speak of underage sex fuelled by drink and drugs. |
| In London and Glasgow these girls are the second or third generation associated with gangs - they know no different, having grown up in and around violent crime. | In London and Glasgow these girls are the second or third generation associated with gangs - they know no different, having grown up in and around violent crime. |
| It is a world largely hidden from mainstream society. It is only now that it's beginning to hit the political radar - these are teenage girls drawn into a world of violent crime - from which there is little chance of escape. | It is a world largely hidden from mainstream society. It is only now that it's beginning to hit the political radar - these are teenage girls drawn into a world of violent crime - from which there is little chance of escape. |
| "You know you're always always looking behind your shoulder 24-7 a day for everyone - you get me," said gang member Rebecca. | "You know you're always always looking behind your shoulder 24-7 a day for everyone - you get me," said gang member Rebecca. |
| "So it's hard when you're living that life and you started so young - it's hard to get out of it you know." | "So it's hard when you're living that life and you started so young - it's hard to get out of it you know." |