Another teenager dead right now - how do we get a grip on gangs?

[NorthNineteen]

Name changed. A teenager was killed (shooting) close to where I live. It happened about an hour ago, there are loads of police, an air ambulance came. It's so awful, I don't know many details but what can be done to protect children? Clearly the current system is broken. It's so heartbreaking to think someone has lost their child today.

Gangs prey on the vulnerable, and people can be vulnerable for a lot of reasons.
To tackle gang crime, you (general you) need to focus on the reasons people join gangs. Protection? Coercion? Poverty? Education? Lack of other options? I don't know. But its going to be multifactorial.

@pinata I watched a really interesting C4 documentary about human-centric social housing in the NE in the 50s/60s (I think). Very progressive ideals & inspiring architecture. Really eye opening. Showed how the houses all faced onto a communal area where children could play & be watched, with facilities within walking distance.
Poorly designed, ill thought out housing schemes, stranded between busy roads, have been shown to create crime, with inhabitants isolated, anonymous, and with no sense of community.

Just to add, as a frontline social worker, we have no autonomy at all. Removing children from their family is obviously a huge decision made by the courts. Issuing proceedings has to be agreed by senior management and they do not want want more looked after children beacause this is seen as a failure and also costs a lot. We leave children in families with some 'sticky plasters' as a result and then they hit puberty.

It's deep rooted and I would say starts in late primary school..

Not having enough money for anything you want and then you get an offer and once you are in you are in .

Some poor kids are tricked. Saw a post of Facebook that the gangs get their own carrier 'mugged' and they are then indebted to the gang to pay back what they lost.

So sad. The only way out of it that I can see is the legalisation of drugs which is fundamentally what it all comes down to.

Solutions

A fifty year plan based around the principles of sure start and family nurse partnership. Breaking cycles of poor/inadequate parenting.

Significant investment in quality social housing. Improving existing stock and an ambitious campaign of new builds. Make them places where people are proud to live.

Treating addiction to drugs as a health issue not a criminal one. Or at least have robust input from both sectors. Deal with the addiction issue and much of the criminality would reduce too.

Challenge the toxic sexualisation of our young people. Anal, facials and strangulation between young teenagers should not be seen as 'standard' in burgeoning developing sexual identities. All children to learn bodily autonomy, how to respect others and when age appropriate about consent in sexual relationships. If 5 year olds can learn respect and kindness for their peers this can continue in their PHSE eduction incrementally to ensure when they are older they have solid foundations to navigate being a teenager and young adult.

Non resident parents to not take pride in avoiding supporting their children. Make it a social stigma to abandon your children (I don't include those safeguarding themselves and their children from domestic abuse who should not be forced to have these dangerous people in their lives).

Provide excellent quality free/low cost childcare. Value those who provide that care. Well educated and sensible professionals who take pride in their critical role and are well remunerated in return demonstrating their value and status in influencing the future generations.

Ditto - carers of the elderly, those with disabilities, those who work with and care for children and young people who are vulnerable and/or cared for by the local authority.

Make apprenticeships available to every young person who don't wish to pursue university (which should be free). Put outstanding pastoral support in place for those attending colleges to ensure they remain in education. Make those apprentices interesting, well paid with reachable goals and outcomes. Let people develop meaningful, well paid work that is valued. The economy can only benefit from this.

Schools to be hubs of the community. Teachers to be allowed to teach but also have outstanding pastoral and supportive care for those that need the extra input. Counsellors, mentors, positive male role models, strong female leads.

Stop 'pilot projects' and 'time limited funding' for social improvement and community projects. Invest long term, be bold and be prepared to see the long term picture.

I could list another 50 ideas!

No government will do any of these things. We need the bravery of the politicians of the 1945 government with a modern vision.

And here rests the the manifesto of Chairman Legoagogogo

@RedthroatedCaracara

Fathers staying with the mother of their children.

Ye that would work

Vulnerable kid with parents involved in domestic violence etc... what could go wrong?

Absolutely terrifying and my heart breaks for the many many families affected.....

@PatchWorkAnnie

Could someone please 'explain like I'm 5' why legalising drugs is the answer? I'm not totally stupid,I understand that it would cut the need for County lines and exploitation of young people, but would something else not just take its place?

There'll always be a scam but the drug trade has been destroying urban (or rural) communities for decades.

It's a big reason the jails are full as well. Kids escaping poverty by dealing drugs, get caught, go to jail (alternative being get stabbed to death in broad daylight).

Apologies if it a

...if it has already been mentioned but games like GTA feed into this. Why work hard when gun violence gets you what you desire

www.socialcaretrainingsolutions.com/gang-culture-uk/ i found this while looking up gang culture very interesting

@legoagogogo, I would vote for you!

[quote funnylittlefloozie]@legoagogogo, I would vote for you![/quote]
Thank you! I have far too many skeletons in my cupboard to go into politics although I have been tempted and I have been asked to start with the local council to build up to possible MP'ing. As I say, too many skeletons though....

No government will do any of these things. We need the bravery of the politicians of the 1945 government with a modern vision.

Another solution? Take a lot of things out of the hands and jurisdiction of politicians.

The damage of Cameron's austerity (facilitated by Lib Dems) was downright criminal in its consequences. Ideological cuts that hit poorest families and communities hardest.

@Ducksurprise

...if it has already been mentioned but games like GTA feed into this. Why work hard when gun violence gets you what you desire

Gun violence (or more usually, knife violence) gets you or your friends dead or maimed. The prisons then fill up with young men who think they are Charlie Big-Potatoes but who are actually damaged and traumatised....

@User135644

No government will do any of these things. We need the bravery of the politicians of the 1945 government with a modern vision.

Another solution? Take a lot of things out of the hands and jurisdiction of politicians.

The damage of Cameron's austerity (facilitated by Lib Dems) was downright criminal in its consequences. Ideological cuts that hit poorest families and communities hardest.

But what austerity did and the Cameron/ Lib Dem propped up govt did was the complete opposite of the 1945 government. The country was on its knees in more way than one but they invested, they innovated (NHS for one) and saw the longer term bigger picture. They believed in the British people.

@NorthNineteen we must be near neighbouring - this happened on my road.

*neighbours

[quote funnylittlefloozie]@legoagogogo, I would vote for you![/quote]
Yes, yes, yes I agree. How come we can we put so much money into covid but could never find the money to do these things for our children.

Treating addiction to drugs as a health issue not a criminal one. Or at least have robust input from both sectors. Deal with the addiction issue and much of the criminality would reduce too

Legoagogo genuine question but how would dealing with addiction reduce criminality.
Also, if drugs were made legal I realise that crime would reduce but surely people would still become addicts - they’d just buy them from a shop rather than a dealer.

Whilst media and zelebs glamourise gangs, killings and treating females like shit, we won't even begin to dismantle gang culture

• years of cuts to crucial services
• lack of additional early years support 0-2 yr olds
• kids having kids
• unstable and violent homes
• parents trying to be friends rather than parent
• cost of living
• over crowded housing
• lack of aspirations
• increase in child mental health
• underfunding of CAMHs
• early childhood trauma
• school exclusions
• poor role models
• GTA and similar games being played as children
• poverty
• wanting to belong
• middle class drug users
• drug dealing
• need to carry a weapon to protect money and/or drugs
• criminal record
• back to square one

but surely people would still become addicts - they’d just buy them from a shop rather than a dealer. People have been doing drugs since they were discovered,
There will always be addicts and people dabbling at least they can buy them regulated and guilt free.
The tax could be reinvested in poor areas.

two of my daughters peers have been charged with murder in the last two years. one of them was 16. (did remand then got released) and the other one is 18 so has been charged and remanded as an adult.
worrying that she thinks nothing of it.

terrible situation - all of it. and heartbreaking for the families who lose someone.

@legoagogogo

And ever since 1945 we've had one Tory government after another with the odd blip.