Below is a short summary of a session Anna Smith, Gangs and Violence Reduction Service Training Lead at Catch 22, ran at the 2024 Safeguarding Adults Conference.
Anna first discussed the difference between an Urban Street Gang (USG) and an Organised Grime Gang (OGC):
- USG: Operate at a local level, often involved volent confrontations with other rival gangs.
- OGC: Operate on a more national level, and is money-oriented.
Signs of Gang Involvement
There are some red flags that could indicate an individual is part of a gang:
- Money with nothing accounted for
- New possessions
- Losing possessions
- Multiple phones
- Weapons
- Substance misuse
- Withdrawn from family
If a person is involved in County Lines activity, there may be additional signs:
- Going missing for weeks at a time
- Train tickets to different places
- Hotel key cards
Read our full guide to how County Lines gangs operate here.
The Four Stages of Grooming
Individuals are often groomed into gang activity. There are four stages to this:
- Targeting stage – Existing gang members will strike up friendships with the individual, to try and win their trust.
- Experience stage – Once the gang member has gained an individual’s trust, they’ll take part in lower level activities. For example, they might hold a package overnight.
- Hooked stage – In order to bring the individual deeper into the gang, they will take part in more serious crimes. The gang might then threaten them with violence and reporting to keep them involved. Or they might try to glamorise the lifestyle to encourage them to keep taking part.
- Trapped stage – Eventually, leaving the gang may feel impossible. The individual may feel too compromised. Or, the gang may threaten them with extreme violence, or even death.
Learn More About Gang Violence
Download the Catch 22 conference presentation here.
You can also access Catch 22’s Gangs and Violence Awareness Booklet.