This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20113749

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Riots crackdown followed by violence rise says think tank Riots response led to more gang violence, says CSJ
(about 9 hours later)
The response to last year's riots has led to more violence among some gangs, an independent think tank has said. The response to last year's riots has led to more violence among some gangs, a think tank says.
A Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) report, to be published on Monday, said the arrest of leading gang members led to chaos in some areas after younger, wilder youths filled the power vacuum. A Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) report, to be published on Monday, says the arrest of leading gang members led to chaos in some areas when younger youths filled the power vacuum.
It calls on the authorities to focus on preventing youngsters joining gangs. It calls for more support for families and communities to prevent young people joining gangs.
Ministers say a £10m fund is helping to stop the next generation of gang members and targeting current ones. Ministers say a £10m fund is helping to target the problem.
Although the government set aside millions of pounds to target the problem of street gangs, the report says many charities have been unaware that funding was available following the riots. But the report says that even so, many charities have been unaware that the cash was available.
And it accuses the authorities of a lack of follow-up work with junior gang members.And it accuses the authorities of a lack of follow-up work with junior gang members.
The think tank's research also revealed a marked increase in the number of girl gang members and a rise in sexual violence within gangs. The think tank's research also highlighted a marked increase in the number of girl gang members and a rise in sexual violence within gangs.
'Nobody if you haven't killed'
Prime Minister David Cameron promised an "all-out war on gangs and gang culture" following the riots which took hold of many English cities - including London, Manchester and Liverpool - in the summer of 2011.Prime Minister David Cameron promised an "all-out war on gangs and gang culture" following the riots which took hold of many English cities - including London, Manchester and Liverpool - in the summer of 2011.
Police responded by arresting many of those associated with criminal groups. A year on, the think tank asked frontline organisations and charities how they felt gang culture had changed in the light of the government response.
But the CSJ report finds that the removal of established gang leaders has led to the breakdown of criminal codes of behaviour and a "marked increase" in violence. Many drew a picture of little or no progress, it says, and "some have even suggested that the problem is becoming worse".
'No control'
It says: "Many in Whitehall regard the riots as a random one-off, and mistake the quashing of the disorder as control of the streets. They could not be more wrong.It says: "Many in Whitehall regard the riots as a random one-off, and mistake the quashing of the disorder as control of the streets. They could not be more wrong.
"The alarming fact is that many streets across the country are besieged by anarchy and violence. There is no control in such neighbourhoods.""The alarming fact is that many streets across the country are besieged by anarchy and violence. There is no control in such neighbourhoods."
People researchers spoke to in riot-hit areas are said to have reported a "marked increase" in the violent behaviour of some gangs as the result of the removal from the streets of "elders" who had previously imposed a code of behaviour. CSJ researchers spoke to people in riot-hit areas who reported a "marked increase" in the violent behaviour of some gangs, because of the removal from the streets of "elders" who had previously imposed a code of behaviour.
"There was a consensus that the current gangs neither have such a code nor cohesive leadership, which is resulting in increased chaos, violence and anarchy," states the report. Such unwritten codes had meant, for example, that a rival gang member could not be shot while he was with his mother, it says.
Christian Guy, of the CSJ, which was founded by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, says: "Gangs played a significant role in the riots and it is dangerous to pretend otherwise. But, it says, "there was a consensus that the current gangs neither have such a code nor cohesive leadership, which is resulting in increased chaos, violence and anarchy".
"In London at least one in five of those convicted was part of a gang." The report describes an incident in which a young gang member held a gun to the head of a rival gang member's baby.
The report recommends "addressing the drivers of gang culture, not just the symptoms". The person relating the incident remarked: "you're seen as 'a nobody' if you haven't killed someone."
It says: "The surest way of eliminating gangs is to try to ensure that children and young people never want or feel the need to join them. To do this we need to tackle deeper issues in our society and seek to nurture and support ever-strong families and stronger communities." 'Serious social breakdown'
The CSJ says one in five of those arrested in London after the riots - 337 suspects - was a known gang member.
"By any measure," it says, "this is a significant minority; one that represents serious social breakdown.
"Furthermore, the actual number is likely to be higher as in all probability a number of others have not yet been brought to justice."
One of the CSJ's central conclusions is that the "drivers of gang culture" need to be addressed, as well as the symptoms.
The report says: "Nearly a year on from the publication of the government's gangs strategy, there is a danger that the enthusiasm for change developed after the riots is being allowed to go cold.
"But as this short report shows, there is a great need for the government to develop a fresh sense of purpose and urgency in tackling this problem.
"The surest way of eliminating gangs is to try to ensure that children and young people never want or feel the need to join them.
"To do this we need to tackle deeper issues in our society and seek to nurture and support ever-strong families and stronger communities."
A government spokesman said the coalition's strategy on violence and gangs made clear this problem could not be tackled through police enforcement alone.A government spokesman said the coalition's strategy on violence and gangs made clear this problem could not be tackled through police enforcement alone.
He pointed to a new network of Young People's Advocates to provide direct support to victims of gang-related sexual violence and the introduction of gang injunctions for 14-17 year olds.He pointed to a new network of Young People's Advocates to provide direct support to victims of gang-related sexual violence and the introduction of gang injunctions for 14-17 year olds.
The spokesman said: "There are no quick fixes but we are seeing results. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that crime is down by 6%, and police figures show knife crime is down by 9%."The spokesman said: "There are no quick fixes but we are seeing results. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that crime is down by 6%, and police figures show knife crime is down by 9%."