Tackling Gangs Action Programme

DCC Jon Murphy

European Serious Organised Crime Conference

4th - 6th March 2008

1

TGAP aim

• “To build on existing work to reduce serious violence, particularly the use of firearms, perpetrated by young people as part of gang-related activity, initially in four target cities but ultimately across the whole of England and Wales”

What is the problem? the national scope

• The number of recorded offences involving firearms decreased by 13 per cent last year and is the lowest number recorded since 2000/01(excludes air weapons).

• 1% of violent incidents in 2006/07 used firearms (BCS).• Firearms were used in 59 homicides in 2006/07, compared to 49 recorded in

2005/06.• The proportion of homicides involving firearms (i.e. shootings) has remained at or

below 12% since 1998/99.

0

2000

4000

6000

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1998

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1999

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2000

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2001

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2002

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2003

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2004

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2005

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Number ofrecorded crimesin which (non-air)firearm is used

Deaths recordedas homicidesinvolving firearms

What is the problem? the regional perspective

• 57% of all non air-weapon firearm offences, and the majority of firearm homicides, have taken place in the Metropolitan, Greater Manchester and West Midlands police areas.

• Proportionally, London, Manchester, West Midlands and Merseyside have the four highest recorded offences per 100,000 of the population (06/07 data)

• These four areas are well above the average for England and Wales.

Source:

¨ Carry and use weapons for protection and robbery

¨ Escalated levels of violence

¨ Some level of organisation structure

¨ Low level disorder

¨ Alcohol and drunkenness¨ Anti-social behaviour

Escala

tion

of v

iole

nce/

crim

inality

Source: Metropolitan University; A Strategic Response to Violent GangsAdapted from Simon Hallsworth, Department of Applied Social Science, London

n

nPeer groups

Organisedcrime

Street gangs

Peer groups

¨ Serious criminal activity – e.g. drug trade

¨ Serious criminal activity – e.g. drug trade

¨ Carry and use weapons for protection and robbery

¨ Escalated levels of violence

¨ Some level of organisation structure

¨ Low level disorder

¨ Alcohol and drunkenness¨ Anti-social behaviour

RecruitmentRecruitment

The movement between Levels is fluid, withindividuals capable of moving up and down the pyramid

Age: >25

Age: 15 - 25

Age: 10 - 14

Pyramid of risk for gangs – Who is the problem

Informal social controlInformal social control

What is the problem? Young people, gangs and guns

Two per cent of school children said they had carried a firearm, this proportion rose to 7% for excluded young people aged 11 to 16. (2004 Mori Youth Survey)

25% of offenders charged with gun-enabled crimes in 2005/06 were aged 17 and under. (MPS data)

Gang members are far more likely to possess weapons and guns than those who are not: 59% of current gang members have ever possessed a gun, compared to 21% of non-gang members. (Home Office survey of arrestees)

Half of recently convicted firearm offenders had been in gangs. (Home Office interviews)

When you have got a gun you feel that you are the man and no one can touch you. A gun makes you feel powerful… if you carry a gun you must be able to use it.

…the younger youths will use it any old time these days, they are just

letting off shots for fun, you get me? But the older heads now will only use them when they need to use them…

Offender

Offender

Covert Operations

Level 2 supply Point of entry Beyond UK

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Trigger point Armourers Entry Upstream procurement

•Local authorities

•Mediation services

•Housing

•CJS / LGJB

•Faith

•Health

•Social Services

•Community leaders

•Education

•Policing

•CDRP

•GOs

•Employment

•SOCA

•Cross-Force Collaboration

• Regional Intelligence Units

• Matrix / Trident / X-Calibre / BRGP

•HMRC

•SOCA

•BIA

•FCO

•SOCA

•Security Services

•Home Office

•HMRC

ImpactArea

National Levers

Firearms: From supply to use

Guns and Gangs - The Challenge

Reluctance to give the authorities

Information

Community Factorse.g. low employment

Inadequate risk management

procedures

Family Factorse.g. family breakdown

Lack of sustainablefunding

Individual Factorse.g. drug use

Limited evidence base

Availability of Guns and Ammunition

Lack of appropriatealternatives

Lack of partnership working/information

sharing

Factors that contribute to the use of guns by

young people as part of gang

culture

Key Issues

Firearms Supply

Associated Glamour

Disruption & Alternatives

Sustainable Funding

Risk Management

Community Confidence

Partnership Working

Evidential Basis

Supporting Witnesses

Practical Guide Policy Recommendations

What does success look like?

Our deliverables will help us…

Focusing on areas in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, a reduction in serious violence, particularly involving the use of firearms, perpetrated by young people as part of gang-related

activity

Create better national policies and

strategies

Impact on targeted areas

Create a shared understanding

about what works and better connectivity

between different agencies

Short term Medium term Long term