LA gangs in London?

According to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, America’s deadly gang problems are coming to London’s streets, the London Paper reported this week.

Gangs in London have been wearing colours to identify themselves with a particular gang, just like the Los Angeles gangs, the Crips and the Bloods.

Rival gangs are now shooting and stabbing each other simply for entering the ‘wrong’ postcode area which belongs to another gang.

Smith said, "Some elements of gang culture tend to come from the States. We have seen the development of things like the use of tags, the use of colours. Those are things we need to address."

The Bloods and Crips say they have 30,000 members each and have been causing problems in LA for over 35 years, killing hundreds of people.

The very worrying thing about London gangs is that members are getting younger and younger. Ex-Hackney gang member Darrell James, 35, feels that the gang problems in London are already worse than those in the US. He said, "Kids here aren’t mimicking LA gangsters, you can’t mimic something you’ve never seen. In LA, gangsters are 21, but here, they’re much younger."

Facts have proven that youth crime is on an increase here in the UK, prompting police efforts to build safer communities and fight to prevent youth violence.

The Victory Youth Group (VYG) has over 16 locations in the UK and has been adding additional resources to the community in helping young people develop their full potential and transform their lives.

Read the story of two ex-gang members from the VYG in Peckham as they reveal the secrets of their transformation.

Together we can cut down on crime and make London a safer place for youths to live in.

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Released on Wednesday, 12th March 2008