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| Gang label 'risks glamorisation' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Groups of youths engaged in anti-social behaviour and petty crime should not be labelled as gangs, a report suggests. | Groups of youths engaged in anti-social behaviour and petty crime should not be labelled as gangs, a report suggests. |
| The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales says glamorising such offenders may encourage them become involved in more serious criminal behaviour. | |
| But its 200-page report written by four criminologists acknowledges that some teenage gangs do exist in urban areas. | |
| It cited poor family relationships and absence of positive role models as reasons why people might join gangs. | |
| According to the report, young people themselves resent the way the word gang is used to describe any group behaving in an anti-social way. | According to the report, young people themselves resent the way the word gang is used to describe any group behaving in an anti-social way. |
| It suggests the term "group related" rather than "gang related" is a better way to describe their activities. | It suggests the term "group related" rather than "gang related" is a better way to describe their activities. |
| "Distinctions need to be made between 'real' gangs and groups of young people which may commit low-level anti-social behaviour and crime," it notes. | "Distinctions need to be made between 'real' gangs and groups of young people which may commit low-level anti-social behaviour and crime," it notes. |
| However, the shadow home secretary David Davis criticised the YJB, which oversees the youth justice system, for quibbling over terminology. | However, the shadow home secretary David Davis criticised the YJB, which oversees the youth justice system, for quibbling over terminology. |
| He said people were not bothered about what groups of young people involved in crime were called. | He said people were not bothered about what groups of young people involved in crime were called. |
| Youths 'groomed' | Youths 'groomed' |
| The YJB report Groups, Gangs and Weapons found gangs featuring members under the age of 18 were often led by young adults. | The YJB report Groups, Gangs and Weapons found gangs featuring members under the age of 18 were often led by young adults. |
| Young people on the cusp of anti-social behaviour and offending must be given the right 'emergency exits' Graham Robb, YJB | Young people on the cusp of anti-social behaviour and offending must be given the right 'emergency exits' Graham Robb, YJB |
| Older gang members were said to "groom" youths by first involving them in fringe activities. | Older gang members were said to "groom" youths by first involving them in fringe activities. |
| It also found family members and older friends can influence young people into joining gangs. | It also found family members and older friends can influence young people into joining gangs. |
| Graham Robb, YJB interim chairman, said: "Young people on the cusp of anti-social behaviour and offending must be given the right 'emergency exits' to avoid falling into more serious group offending and gangs in those areas where they exist. | Graham Robb, YJB interim chairman, said: "Young people on the cusp of anti-social behaviour and offending must be given the right 'emergency exits' to avoid falling into more serious group offending and gangs in those areas where they exist. |
| "No agency - statutory or community - can tackle this alone. We must continue to work together to bring about change." | "No agency - statutory or community - can tackle this alone. We must continue to work together to bring about change." |
| Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said the government has recently announced measures to tackle issues raised by the report. | Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said the government has recently announced measures to tackle issues raised by the report. |
| "The government is committed to tackling gang, gun and knife crime and to making communities safer for everyone, including young people," he said. | "The government is committed to tackling gang, gun and knife crime and to making communities safer for everyone, including young people," he said. |
| The "valuable work" undertaken by community groups has also been recognised with additional funding of £500,000, he added. | The "valuable work" undertaken by community groups has also been recognised with additional funding of £500,000, he added. |