‘Keeping kids safe’: Children’s Commissioner – gang violence etc

Summary

There are an estimated 27,000 children in England who identify as gang members, only a fraction of whom are known to children’s services. Local areas are not facing up to the scale of the problem, are not taking notice of the risk factors and are not listening to parents and communities who ask for help. Children in gangs should not be treated as criminals but should be subjected to safeguarding procedures.