Teachers offer to combat gang culture

Plans to tackle gang culture in and around schools have been drawn up in the first research commissioned by teachers' leaders on coping with the problem.

The study, which comes after a weekend in which two young people were killed in gang-related clashes in Dewsbury and London, recommends schools consider staggering starting and finishing times in an attempt to prevent rival groups engaging in warfare – and the use of metal detectors to flush out weapons.

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The report, commissioned from crime-fighting experts by the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, also says efforts to prevent pupils from joining gangs should start at primary school level – as evidence shows children as young as nine are becoming involved with gangs.

The number of under-16s involved is estimated to have doubled during the past five years, it says. "Older gang members now have children of their own growing up in homes where the gang lifestyle, including weapons, is normal, even revered," it adds.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "This is timely, because what we don't want to be just talking about gangs while the problem has got out of control."

A key element in tackling the problem is to challenge the "glamorisation" of gangs and drugs among young people – by recruiting carefully vetted former gang members to give talks on the reality of life in a gang.

However the report by Perpetuity – a leading research organisation specialising in crime reduction – warns that the problem may be difficult to solve as many youngsters believe "hardnosed criminals" offer them more of a sense of identity and belonging than their parents do.

"The lack of positive role models, the absence of a father in the home combined with too much freedom, were seen to result in groups of young people with no respect for their elders," says the report, noting a comment made by one young person, 'you are part of something if you belong to a gang'."

Researchers admit schools alone cannot solve the problem but add that – by using drama, music, art and video – they can get a message across that "takes away the glamour often associated with 'gangsta' lifestyles". It says girls as well as boys are attracted to the "gangsta" lifestyle.

"Young girls suggested that males were under greater pressure to join gangs than females," it said. "However, they were reported to be increasingly attracted to the kudos of men in gangs."

The most likely "flashpoints" where youngsters are at risk from gang-related activity are on journeys to and from school.

It adds: "This will have implications for school travel and transport policies – for example staggered school closing times may prevent clashes between rivals in local communities."

The study, conducted in schools in London and Birmingham, said teachers believed pupils were drawn into gangs as a result of a sense of belonging or for protection.

In some cases, though, the school was described as a "sanctuary" where children could gain respite from community tensions. However, youngsters were deliberately failing their exams because education was not seen as "cool" by the gang leaders. "This can have effects upon schools' results which in turn impacts upon staff recruitment and retention as well as attracting pupils," it says.

"There were some anecdotal reports of young people aspiring to be drug dealers," it adds.

Some youngsters brought weapons into school, saying "it's not a bad thing – you might get attacked on the way to school or on the way back – it's protection" and "I would rather be arrested than dead."

The Children's minister, Beverley Hughes, said: "Schools are uniquely placed to spot early signs of pupil involvement in gangs and to work collaboratively with other agencies to tackle it."

Knox murder suspect in court

A 21-year-old man appeared in court yesterday charged with murdering the teenage Harry Potter actor Rob Knox, 18, who was stabbed to death in a fight outside the Metro Bar in Sidcup, south-east London, on Saturday. Karl Bishop, unemployed, of Sidcup, did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared at Bexley magistrates' court charged with murder. Another five men between 16 and 21 were treated in hospital after being stabbed in the incident. Mr Bishop is charged with five counts of wounding with intent relating to these attacks. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 2 September. (PA)