New powers to tackle gang problems
The Home Office has recently announced that new civil injunctions to prevent gang related violence will come into effect on the 31st January.
The ‘gang injunctions’ are designed to disrupt gang activity and prevent further incidents of violence by placing restrictions on those subject to them. The special measures could include:
- • Not entering a certain geographical area
- • Not being in public with a particular species of animal, for example a dog which had previously been used as a weapon
- • Not wearing certain ‘gang colours’ in public
- • Participating in positive activities such as entering a mentoring programme.
The Home Office Minister for crime prevention James Brokenshire said:
‘Gangs cause significant and lasting harm to our communities through fuelling violence, creating an atmosphere of fear and drawing young people into criminality. These new powers will help police and local authorities tackle local gang problems by placing tough conditions on the behaviour of individuals involved in gang-related violence and providing strong support to those who want to leave violent gangs.’
Injunctions will be issued by a county court or the High Court and can be applied for by the police and local authorities. They will be issued to adults who have been proven to be involved in, to have encouraged or to have assisted gang-related violence, the orders will last for up to two years.
The new injunctions will form one of a number of measures which can be used to tackle gang-related violence; they are different from ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) as they target more serious crimes. The government has also been clear that those involved in gang-related violence should be prosecuted under criminal law where necessary.
For more information, visit the Home Office Website.
NDVF 04/01/2011