Gangs recruit girls of seven to carry drugs and weapons
GIRLS as young as seven are joining gangs to carry drugs and weapons for group "elders" as a culture of youth violence spreads to primary schools, ministers warned today.
Children recruited to some London gangs - known as "tinys" or "youngers" - must also complete initiation rituals, which can include the rape or even murder of rival gang members, according to a report.
Growing numbers of younger children are believed to be joining gangs to win respect and recognition from their peers, the report said.
The picture of a worsening gang culture emerged as ministers called on teachers and social workers to watch for signs that children are being lured into violence.
New guidance for youth and social workers warned that there had been a "noticeable and significant" lowering of the age of recognised gang members.
It continues: "Anecdotally, it seems that some children, including girls, who claim gang affiliation are as young as seven and eight years old. It is more common for 'youngers' or 'tinys' to be in their early teens, and their role is often to carry weapons, drugs or stolen property for 'elders' or other gang members.
"They may also engage in street crime, sexual assault and other anti-social behaviour in their own right."
The report gave a graphic account of life as a member of one of London's street gangs.
While not every gang is involved in the same activities, some use initiation rituals or "transactional sex", with sisters and female cousins of older gang members at particular risk of exploitation.
"Within a gang girls may be sexually exploited or may sexually service older male gang members in return for a supply of drugs or for fear of worse retaliation if they refuse," the report said.
"Some senior gang members pass their girlfriends around to lower ranking members or to the whole gang at the same time.
"In some areas, such as London, initiation rituals can involve forcing new members to commit sexual abuse or other violent acts, including murder, to 'earn their spurs'," the report said.
Members can feel under intense pressure to commit further attacks in order to maintain respect. Failure to do so will put them at risk of being attacked by members of their own gang.
Children's minister Beverley Hughes urged professionals working with young people to be alert to risk factors that could lead to gang affiliation.
These include being expelled from school, behaving violently towards others and drug or alcohol abuse.
Ms Hughes said: "People working with young people at risk are ideally placed to spot the early signs of gang involvement and we want them to be aware of these top danger signs to make sure identifying them becomes a routine but essential part of their work.
"When younger brothers and sisters are in danger of being drawn into gangs it's a child safety issue and every means of protecting them must be used, including holding parents to account."
The guidance listed "tell-tale signs" indicating that young people might be involved in gangs, including holding unexplained extra money, having a new nickname, graffiti-style "tags" on school books and constantly talking about another young person who seems to have a lot of influence over them.
