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| Anti-gang plan targets families | Anti-gang plan targets families |
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| The government is to renew attempts to intervene in the lives of young people at risk of becoming gang members. | The government is to renew attempts to intervene in the lives of young people at risk of becoming gang members. |
| Its new strategy will also seek to help those already involved escape a culture of drug dealing, robbery and violence. | Its new strategy will also seek to help those already involved escape a culture of drug dealing, robbery and violence. |
| The Department for Work and Pensions aims to tackle 120,000 problem families in England and Wales, in some cases intervening before a child is born. | The Department for Work and Pensions aims to tackle 120,000 problem families in England and Wales, in some cases intervening before a child is born. |
| Labour says tackling gangs is vital but that government spending cuts could undermine the strategy. | Labour says tackling gangs is vital but that government spending cuts could undermine the strategy. |
| The Home Office is promising tougher policing for those refusing to give up their gang lifestyles, with reports suggesting life sentences could be introduced for those convicted of supplying guns. | The Home Office is promising tougher policing for those refusing to give up their gang lifestyles, with reports suggesting life sentences could be introduced for those convicted of supplying guns. |
| The police will also "flag up" convicted gang members who should be facing deportation so the UK Border Agency can take action. | |
| Girl gangs | Girl gangs |
| The policy review was triggered by the summer riots but officials stress the strategy goes beyond the causes of that disorder, according to BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds. | The policy review was triggered by the summer riots but officials stress the strategy goes beyond the causes of that disorder, according to BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds. |
| A Home Office source said the previous Labour government had "really tried" to deal with social issues through early intervention but that many projects had fallen by the wayside despite the large sums invested, our correspondent added. | A Home Office source said the previous Labour government had "really tried" to deal with social issues through early intervention but that many projects had fallen by the wayside despite the large sums invested, our correspondent added. |
| On a dark estate, I met up with a group of men in their early 20s who are, to various extents, giving up their gang lifestyles. They told me it started when they were just children; bored, free from parental supervision and envious of the "legends" and money surrounding older gang members. | On a dark estate, I met up with a group of men in their early 20s who are, to various extents, giving up their gang lifestyles. They told me it started when they were just children; bored, free from parental supervision and envious of the "legends" and money surrounding older gang members. |
| Groups of friends started getting involved with drug dealing, robbery and endless violent battles for "respect". They still live in fear for their lives. This year, one witnessed a friend being shot dead. | Groups of friends started getting involved with drug dealing, robbery and endless violent battles for "respect". They still live in fear for their lives. This year, one witnessed a friend being shot dead. |
| When it comes to enticing them away from the gang lifestyle, the approach taken by David Anthony - the youth worker who introduced us - seems to be working. Former gang members try to get them to join a "non-criminal" gang offering training and support. | When it comes to enticing them away from the gang lifestyle, the approach taken by David Anthony - the youth worker who introduced us - seems to be working. Former gang members try to get them to join a "non-criminal" gang offering training and support. |
| His experience is that spending time and money on young people involved in gangs will pay off better than strong policing. The government believes both are necessary. | His experience is that spending time and money on young people involved in gangs will pay off better than strong policing. The government believes both are necessary. |
| The coalition aims to find the most effective ways to intervene in young lives, putting extra money into supporting agencies which are attempting to deal with gangs. | The coalition aims to find the most effective ways to intervene in young lives, putting extra money into supporting agencies which are attempting to deal with gangs. |
| Its strategy - to be published later - includes researching girl gangs, encouraging closer working between health professionals, youth workers, police and schools. | Its strategy - to be published later - includes researching girl gangs, encouraging closer working between health professionals, youth workers, police and schools. |
| The government defines gangs as loose groupings of young people involved in criminality, defending their "territory" and fighting with other gangs. | The government defines gangs as loose groupings of young people involved in criminality, defending their "territory" and fighting with other gangs. |
| Unlike their US counterparts, such as at the infamous Crips and Bloods, British gangs tend to be more fluid and have fewer defined rules and hierarchies. | Unlike their US counterparts, such as at the infamous Crips and Bloods, British gangs tend to be more fluid and have fewer defined rules and hierarchies. |
| Ministers have been influenced by a number of projects, including the successful efforts of police and agencies in Glasgow to dramatically cut gang-related violence. | Ministers have been influenced by a number of projects, including the successful efforts of police and agencies in Glasgow to dramatically cut gang-related violence. |
| Strathclyde police has focused on identifying the most active gang-members and tackling their crime. | Strathclyde police has focused on identifying the most active gang-members and tackling their crime. |
| Det Ch Supt John Carnochan, the head of its Violence Reduction Unit says gang members are told their access to additional opportunities is linked to behaviour. | Det Ch Supt John Carnochan, the head of its Violence Reduction Unit says gang members are told their access to additional opportunities is linked to behaviour. |
| "Some of them fall off the wagon. They're OK for a couple of months and then we receive information that they were caught carrying a knife or they assaulted someone, then we deal with that," he said. | "Some of them fall off the wagon. They're OK for a couple of months and then we receive information that they were caught carrying a knife or they assaulted someone, then we deal with that," he said. |
| "We will stop them playing football, we will take them off courses they were on. We've actually taken people out of jobs. They always get a second or third change, we never walk away. But they have to know: 'You break your word, we make sure there are consequences'." | "We will stop them playing football, we will take them off courses they were on. We've actually taken people out of jobs. They always get a second or third change, we never walk away. But they have to know: 'You break your word, we make sure there are consequences'." |
| Another successful scheme has been the Matrix strategy by pioneered Merseyside Police which combines high-profile law enforcement with schemes to find ways to allow gang members to escape. | Another successful scheme has been the Matrix strategy by pioneered Merseyside Police which combines high-profile law enforcement with schemes to find ways to allow gang members to escape. |
| However, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "This government is making it harder, not easier, to take action against gangs by cutting 16,000 police officers and making 20% cuts to youth services. | However, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "This government is making it harder, not easier, to take action against gangs by cutting 16,000 police officers and making 20% cuts to youth services. |
| "Changing the law won't work unless there are properly-funded partnerships in place to deliver the action we need." | "Changing the law won't work unless there are properly-funded partnerships in place to deliver the action we need." |
| Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |