From this page you can download guidance intended for frontline practitioners in voluntary and statutory services across the children's workforce (social care, crime, prevention, the police, prisons, probation, health or education. This guidance aims to
- aid understanding of the nature of risk that gang activity poses to children
- identify how signs of gang involvement may manifest themselves
- provide guidance on dealing with these issues.
Safeguarding procedures provide a key tool for all agencies working with young people, to
- assist them when working together to prevent young people from being drawn into gangs
- support those who have been drawn into the margins of gangs
- protect those who are at immediate risk of harm either as members or victims of gangs.
This practice guidance is for those working with voluntary and statutory services across the children's workforce and all others whose work brings them into contact with children and young people. It is intended to help agencies and practitioners respond effectively to the needs of children and young people – girls and young women, and boys and young men at risk of gang-related violence and harm.
The guidance outlines factors for agencies and practitioners to consider and processes to follow in terms of identification, referral, and assessment and support for young people who may be affected by gang activity. It looks at the reasons for why young people become involved in gangs, the risks associated with with gang membership for young people and risks of being affected by gang activity in other ways (e.g. victims of gang-related violence; having siblings who are gang members).
