Speaking Out Briefing No. 1: Knife, Gun and Gang Crime

Media reporting equates the use of guns and knives with gang culture and encourages the perception that these trends are a single phenomenon of the growing criminalisation of youth, which can be countered by a single, usually punitive, response. In fact, children and young people turn to knives and guns for a variety of reasons, not all of them associated with gangs or gang culture.

This briefing:

• outlines key policy proposals relating to youth gangs, including facilitating the involvement of young people in determining how public spaces are used, the Respect agenda and funding programmes supporting community groups working on issues related to gun, knife and gang crime;

• summarises the main legislation relating to the sale and possession of knives and guns;

• details key research findings relating to the extent of gun and knife crime, the prevalence of knife carrying amongst young people and the factors influencing young people to join gangs; and

• considers the contribution that the children and young people’s voluntary and community sector is making to address these issues, including through emotional support and advice.

The briefing also includes a report from Behind the Headlines – a Speaking Out seminar on knife, gun and gang crime held at Birmingham Voluntary Services Council on 29 June 2007.

To download the full briefing: Speaking Out Briefing No.1: Knife, Gun and Gang Crime (PDF)
Published September 2007

To request hard copies of this or any other Speaking Out briefing paper, please contact us on 020 7278 1041 or email policy@ncvys.org.uk.