According to a new report by the Children’s Commission, around 27, 000 children identify themselves as gang members.
The study reveals that criminals use sophisticated techniques to draw young people in, before exposing them to chilling levels of violence.
The report adds that 313,000 children know a gang member, and 34,000 have experienced violent crime.
It’s estimated that most child gang members are unknown to authorities.
The report has sparked fears that authorities are repeating the mistakes of previous sex grooming scandals.
Warning Signs
Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield, stresses that professionals need to learn from the mistakes o child sexual exploitation.
She told City News:
“We need to identify children at risk who aren’t getting the support they need.”
“There are lots of warning signs, like missing school or injuries.”
“These warning signs are often being ignored, as local areas are not facing up to the scale of the problem.”
Knife Crime
The findings come amid growing concern over youth violence, and knife crime in particular.
Earlier this month, the number of fatal stabbings in England and Wales reached the highest level since records started 70 years ago.
The trend is partly being blamed on the emergence of county line gangs, which exploit children to run lucrative drug supply networks.
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Headline Gang crime: 27,000 vulnerable children exploitedShort Headline Gang crime: 27,000 vulnerable children exploitedStandfirst A report warns that the mistakes exposed by the grooming scandal are being repeated.
According to a new report by the Children’s Commission, around 27, 000 children identify themselves as gang members.
The study reveals that criminals use sophisticated techniques to draw young people in, before exposing them to chilling levels of violence.
The report adds that 313,000 children know a gang member, and 34,000 have experienced violent crime.
It’s estimated that most child gang members are unknown to authorities.
The report has sparked fears that authorities are repeating the mistakes of previous sex grooming scandals.
Warning Signs
Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield, stresses that professionals need to learn from the mistakes o child sexual exploitation.
She told City News:
“We need to identify children at risk who aren’t getting the support they need.”
“There are lots of warning signs, like missing school or injuries.”
“These warning signs are often being ignored, as local areas are not facing up to the scale of the problem.”
Knife Crime
The findings come amid growing concern over youth violence, and knife crime in particular.
Earlier this month, the number of fatal stabbings in England and Wales reached the highest level since records started 70 years ago.
The trend is partly being blamed on the emergence of county line gangs, which exploit children to run lucrative drug supply networks.
