by Scarlett de Courcier

Created on: January 24, 2009

There are numerous myths surrounding the issue of gang culture, and abundant misunderstandings concerning the reality of what gang culture is, and how it manifests itself. To many people in the UK, the term "gangs" refers to things they have seen on the television; things that happen in places such as New York and Los Angeles. With the recent newspaper reports of increased levels of knife crime in London, however, people have begun to wonder whether they have been blind to a subculture that has always been around in the UK, or whether it is emerging as a result of various direct and indirect influences. Many industries are being blamed - mostly the usual culprits, such as music, fashion and other entertainment media. But what is the truth about gangs in the UK? Do they exist? How do they function?

The archetypal 'gang' is a group of youths in a city centre, organised in some sort of hierarchy, and in opposition to other gangs throughout the city and/or country. This is not far from the truth. Working gangs will have a pecking order; the people 'at the top' will either officially or unofficially direct the actions and reactions of those below them. Usually, the structure of the gang develops organically among a group of people who have been in close contact for a number of years. Many gangs, for example, begin in primary schools, where the natural leaders start to emerge at an early age. As popular children draw others to them - or sometimes 'force' others to associate with them via threats or violence - groups are built and relationships are formed. The weaker members of the gang will be protected by the stronger members; there is an ineffable bond comparable to (and, in the case of many gang members, often surmounting) the bonds between members of a family; and a 'territory' is claimed in which the gang can meet and socialise.

Just like in the rest of the human race, what people have is never enough. Gangs compete for territories, for members, for reputation, and often for life. The world of the gang is an insular and yet unsheltered one; gang members are inextricably linked to one another, and most - if not all - of their communication with others will happen inside the group; yet injury, violence and death are the day-to-day.

Sympathetic articles towards gang members often take the "they're deprived children who have nowhere else to turn" tone. This is by no means always the case. Many deprived children are not members of gangs, and some gang members are not

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